Skip to main content
WaterSafeCheck

Ohio Tap Water Quality Report

Water quality grades, lead levels, and violation data for all 1,435 ZIP codes in Ohio

ZIP Codes

1,435

Health Violations (5yr)

515

Avg Safety Score

59.5/100

High Lead Risk ZIPs

70.8%

Overview: Drinking Water in Ohio

Drinking water quality in Ohio faces notable challenges, currently scoring below the national average with a composite safety score of 59.5/100 across 1,435 monitored ZIP codes. According to the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System, 3% of ZIP codes in the state have received a failing grade. These scores reflect historical struggles with aging infrastructure, localized contamination events, and recurring health-based violations that require active intervention by local utilities.

The state's water infrastructure has experienced significant compliance hurdles recently, logging a staggering 515 health-based violations over the past 5-year monitoring window out of 2,908 total violations. When a state registers this volume of health-based violations, it often points to systemic challenges such as aging distribution networks, agricultural runoff affecting groundwater, or underfunded rural water systems. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for enforcing corrective actions and penalizing systems that repeatedly fail to meet safe drinking water standards.

One of the most pressing concerns for Ohio residents is the elevated risk of lead exposure. EPA models and historical monitoring indicate that 70.8% of ZIP codes in Ohio are classified as High or Very High risk for lead. This is frequently associated with older housing stock built before the 1986 federal ban on lead pipes and solder. Residents living in older homes should strongly consider having their tap water independently tested and utilizing a certified NSF/ANSI 53 water filter for drinking and cooking.

Surface Water

49.5%

of ZIP codes

Total Violations

2,908

5-year record

Grade A ZIPs

0

0% of state

Grade F ZIPs

39

3% of state

Water Quality Grade Distribution in Ohio

How do Ohio's 1,435 ZIP codes stack up by water quality grade?

A
0 ZIP codes0%
B
316 ZIP codes22%
C
602 ZIP codes42%
D
478 ZIP codes33%
F
39 ZIP codes3%

Water Quality by City in Ohio

Click any city to view ZIP code-level water quality reports

Cincinnati

71 ZIPs

C

Dayton

49 ZIPs

F

Columbus

46 ZIPs

C

Cleveland

41 ZIPs

B

Toledo

31 ZIPs

B

Akron

29 ZIPs

C

Canton

18 ZIPs

C

Youngstown

15 ZIPs

B

Mansfield

8 ZIPs

C

Warren

7 ZIPs

B

Hamilton

6 ZIPs

C

Springfield

6 ZIPs

C

Lima

6 ZIPs

C

Groveport

4 ZIPs

C

Marion

4 ZIPs

C

Newark

3 ZIPs

C

Westerville

3 ZIPs

C

Lorain

3 ZIPs

B

Euclid

3 ZIPs

C

Cuyahoga Falls

3 ZIPs

C

Kent

3 ZIPs

B

Massillon

3 ZIPs

C

Middletown

3 ZIPs

C

Dublin

2 ZIPs

C

Hebron

2 ZIPs

C

Marysville

2 ZIPs

C

Reynoldsburg

2 ZIPs

C

Lockbourne

2 ZIPs

C

Bowling Green

2 ZIPs

B

Perrysburg

2 ZIPs

B

Oregon

2 ZIPs

B

Zanesville

2 ZIPs

C

Steubenville

2 ZIPs

C

Ashtabula

2 ZIPs

B

Chagrin Falls

2 ZIPs

B

Elyria

2 ZIPs

D

Mentor

2 ZIPs

B

Novelty

2 ZIPs

D

Willoughby

2 ZIPs

D

Eastlake

2 ZIPs

D

🏆 Highest Rated ZIP Codes in Ohio

43111Carbon Hill
83/100
B
43438Kelleys Island
83/100
B
43442Lindsey
83/100
B
43517Edgerton
83/100
B
43554Pioneer
83/100
B

⚠ Lowest Rated ZIP Codes in Ohio

43791White Cottage
32/100
F
45400Dayton
32/100
F
45401Dayton
32/100
F
45408Dayton
32/100
F
45410Dayton
32/100
F

Common Drinking Water Contaminants in Ohio

The following are common regulated contaminants found in Ohio drinking water based on EPA violation records. Click any contaminant to learn about EPA safety limits and health effects.

Stage 2 DBP RuleConsumer Confidence Report RuleFecal ColiformHaloacetic Acids (HAA5)Contaminant 0700Contaminant 0800Stage 1 DBP RuleTotal Trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level regulations. For the complete list of regulated contaminants and MCLs, see the Water Quality Safety Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions — Ohio Drinking Water

Is tap water generally safe to drink in Ohio?+
Yes, for the majority of residents, tap water in Ohio is treated, heavily regulated, and safe to drink. However, safety varies significantly by location. Statewide, 0 ZIP codes earn an "A" grade for perfect compliance, while 39 earn an "F" due to historical violations. It is essential to search your specific ZIP code above to view the exact compliance record for your local water utility.
What are the biggest water quality issues in Ohio?+
Based on a 5-year analysis of EPA violation data, the primary water quality challenges in Ohio include managing 515 health-based violations statewide and addressing infrastructure age. Additionally, 70.8% of ZIP codes in the state are rated as having a High or Very High probability of lead exposure risk, which is a key metric residents should monitor.
Who regulates and enforces drinking water standards in Ohio?+
Drinking water in Ohio is primarily regulated by Ohio Environmental Protection Agency under a primacy agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA sets the federal baseline standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels) through the Safe Drinking Water Act, while Ohio Environmental Protection Agency conducts the day-to-day monitoring, issues compliance orders, and enforces penalties against local water systems that fail to meet these standards.
Where does Ohio get its drinking water?+
Water sources in Ohio vary widely by municipality. Statewide, approximately 49.5% of the monitored ZIP codes rely on surface water sources (such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs), which require extensive filtration and disinfection. The remaining systems primarily rely on groundwater pumped from underground aquifers, which is naturally filtered but can be susceptible to agricultural runoff or naturally occurring minerals.
How do I find the official water quality report for my home in Ohio?+
You can enter your ZIP code in our search box above for a detailed, easy-to-read report based on EPA data. Furthermore, your local water utility is required by federal law to distribute an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) by July 1 of each year. You can contact your utility directly to request this document, which outlines exact contaminant measurements from the previous year.
View All 1,435 ZIP Codes in Ohio

Browse EPA water quality data for every monitored ZIP code. For faster results, use the search bar above.

430014300243003430044300543006430074300843009430104301143013430144301543016430174301843019430214302243023430254302643027430284302943030430314303243033430354303643037430404304143044430454304643047430484305043054430554305643058430604306143062430644306543066430674306843069430704307143072430734307443076430774307843080430814308243083430844308543086430934309843101431024310343105431064310743109431104311143112431134311543116431174311943123431254312643127431284313043135431364313743138431404314243143431444314543146431474314843149431504315143152431534315443155431564315743158431604316243164431944319543198431994320143202432034320443205432064320743209432104321143212432134321443215432164321743218432194322043221432224322343224432264322743228432294323043231432324323443235432364324043251432604326643268432704327143272432794328743291432994330143302433064330743310433114331443315433164331743318433194332043321433224332343324433254332643330433314333243333433344333543336433374333843340433414334243343433444334543346433474334843349433504335143356433574335843359433604340243403434064340743408434104341243413434144341643420434304343143432434334343443435434364343743438434394344043441434424344343445434464344743449434504345143452434564345743458434604346243463434644346543466434674346843469435014350243504435054350643510435114351243515435164351743518435194352043521435224352343524435254352643527435284352943530435314353243533435344353543536435374354043541435424354343545435474354843549435504355143552435534355443555
+ 1,135 more ZIP codes — please search by city above