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Public water system record

Cumberland Municipal Water Works

Serves an area of Harlan County, KY that includes Cumberland · 2,843 people served

Federal records show 4 health-based violations and 5 monitoring/reporting issues for Cumberland Municipal Water Works in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule violation.

  • KY0480092
  • CUMBERLAND
  • KY
  • 2,843 served

System profile

Source water Surface water
ZIP 40823
EPA system ID KY0480092

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
4
Resolved
4
Unresolved
0
Any acute record
Yes
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
5

Key facts

  • Cumberland Municipal Water Works draws water from 1 surface water intake.
  • Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 0.071 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.2 times the limit), 2017.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: civil case filed in court by Kentucky, February 2013.
  • Record on file since 1993, with 5 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 1,697 unknown out of 1,697 service lines.

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Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.

Contaminant Rule family Start date Status Acute
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 120 Jul 1, 2020 Resolved Yes
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 120 Feb 1, 2020 Resolved Yes
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.066 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 220 Apr 1, 2018 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.071 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
 220 Jul 1, 2017 Resolved No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2023 Resolved
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Monitoring and reporting
 Jul 2, 2017 Resolved
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring and reporting
 Jul 1, 2017 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2017 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2015 Resolved

Full record since 1993

EPA's records for Cumberland Municipal Water Works go back to 1993. Before October 19, 2016 they list 5 health-based violations (2 resolved, 3 archived by EPA without a recorded fix) and 32 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1990s 0 11
2000s 2 4
2010 to October 18, 2016 3 17
October 19, 2016 to 2019 2 3
2020s 2 1

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), began January 2011, Archived.

Show all 5 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.083 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 Jan 1, 2011 Archived
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.084 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 Oct 1, 2010 Archived
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.087 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (1.1 times the limit)
 Jul 1, 2010 Archived
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Apr 1, 2003 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule
Treatment technique failure
 Mar 1, 2003 Resolved

Enforcement actions

Kentucky regulators took 3 formal enforcement actions against Cumberland Municipal Water Works between 2011 and 2013. The most recent was a civil case filed in court in February 2013.

Date By Action Violations covered
Feb 13, 2013 Kentucky Civil case filed in court 3 violations (3 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Jul 6, 2012 Kentucky Civil case filed in court 3 violations (3 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Aug 18, 2011 Kentucky Compliance order with a penalty 3 violations (3 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

What the violations mean

Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule

2 incidents

The system did not meet a filtration or treatment requirement for surface water

Inadequate treatment of surface water can let pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia through

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

2 incidents

Haloacetic acid byproducts exceeded the federal limit

Long-term exposure to HAAs may increase cancer risk

Where the water comes from

Cumberland Municipal Water Works draws water from 1 surface water intake. It also has emergency connections to Lynch Water Works and Benham Water Plant.

Emergency or part-time connections to

Annual water quality report

Cumberland Municipal Water Works must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.

Where the state allows it, systems serving fewer than 10,000 people may publish the report in a local newspaper or news site instead of mailing it, and must provide a copy on request.

Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search

Testing your own water

To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Kentucky.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells