Is tap water safe in Owensboro?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Owensboro, KY?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 313 ppm (18.3 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 42303?

At 313 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Owensboro water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Owensboro, Kentucky.

Median indexed hardness

313PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 312–313 PPM

State comparison: 156 PPM above
State hardness rank: #25 of 129
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Owensboro has 2 published ZIP profiles across Daviess County. The indexed median is 313 PPM, compared with 157 PPM across Kentucky.

Among the 129 Kentuckycities with an indexed median, Owensboro ranks #25from highest to lowest. Across all 164 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 32.6to 360 PPM.

The 312–313 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard2 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 8.9 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Feb 23, 2016 to Sep 5, 2019.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Owensboro

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

42301

Very Hard

312 PPM

Nearest site: 8.9 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

42303

Very Hard

313 PPM

Nearest site: 2.7 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Owensboro Municipal Utilities

PWSID KY0300336

Groundwater

System population served: 60,473
Last reported: Jun 18, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

No violation records are included in the current lookback window.

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Kentucky communities

Lewisport

Hancock County

313 PPM median

Springfield

Washington County

311 PPM median

Danville

Boyle County

311 PPM median

Bloomfield

Nelson County

319 PPM median

Nicholasville

Jessamine County

319 PPM median

Shelbyville

Shelby County

320 PPM median

Search all 130 Kentucky cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Owensboro

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 313 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.