WaterQ
Ohio State Report All States
Official Status: March 2026

Is Cincinnati tap water safe to drink?

✓ Generally Safe
A

Mostly yes — Cincinnati scores 99/100.

Safety Score
99
out of 100

Still not sure if you need a filter in Cincinnati?

Read Decision Guide →

Cincinnati

Ohio

View Ohio state report Data updated: Mar 2026

Is Cincinnati tap water safe to drink?

Mostly yes — Cincinnati scores 99/100. This report aggregates EPA drinking water data across 1 local system in Cincinnati. We found 0 total violations (0 unresolved).

Real-Time Environment

Live: 02:30 PM
0mm Precipitation

☀️ No active precipitation. Rainfall can impact surface water turbidity and pollutant runoff in Cincinnati.

Water Quality Impact

✅ Minimal Impact Localized weather conditions may influence test result variability.

🛡️ Home Water Treatment Needs

Should you invest in filtration or softening for your home in Cincinnati?

Requirement Status
Optional
🟢
💡

Expert Advice

Your water quality is excellent. Standard filtration is optional but can further enhance taste.

Buying a Filter?

Wondering if Cincinnati tap water needs filtering? We break it down.

Baby Formula Safety

Mixing baby formula with Cincinnati tap water? Read this first.

Homebuyer's Perspective

If you're house-hunting in Cincinnati, water quality belongs on your due-diligence checklist alongside schools and crime data. The high safety score (99/100) suggests lower risk for plumbing corrosion and appliance scaling.

Property Impact: Positive / Stable

Health & Family Safety

Residents should monitor Gross Alpha Particle Activity levels. Pregnant women and families with young children should consult the specific EPA health goals listed below.

View Health Risk Glossary →

Compliance Record for Cincinnati

0
Violations (5yr)
0
Unresolved
6
Contaminants Tracked
0
Exceeding EPA Limit

Based on EPA SDWIS violation records and contaminant test results for all water systems serving Cincinnati.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cincinnati tap water safe to drink?

Mostly yes — Cincinnati scores 99/100.

How many water systems serve Cincinnati?

Cincinnati is served by 1 public water system in our latest EPA-backed dataset.

How can I check water quality for my exact address in Cincinnati?

Use the WaterQ search tool to look up your ZIP code and view nearby systems, contaminant levels, and recent violations for Cincinnati.

What is the water quality score for Cincinnati?

The water quality score for Cincinnati is 99 out of 100, based on EPA contaminant data, violation history, and testing results for all serving water systems.

What are the top contaminants in Cincinnati?

The top contaminants detected in Cincinnati include Gross Alpha Particle Activity, PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), Radium-226. View detailed information on our contaminants page.

Water Quality Score
99/100
Grade
A
Water Systems
7
Population
785,984

Cincinnati Water Quality Summary

Cincinnati, OH receives a water quality score of 99/100 (Grade A) based on EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) compliance data for 7 public water systems serving the area.

Cincinnati's water quality is above the national average, with strong compliance records and low contaminant levels. Residents generally receive clean, safe tap water that meets EPA standards.

Cincinnati's score of 99 is 12 points above the Ohio state average of 87, and above the nationwide average of roughly 78/100 across all U.S. states.

As a large city situated in the Midwestern industrial Rust Belt near the Great Lakes coastline, Cincinnati, Ohio, relies on seven distinct water systems to serve its residents. For prospective homebuyers, the local utility infrastructure offers strong peace of mind, consistently achieving near-perfect evaluation marks and top-tier letter grades. This exemplary performance across all seven networks demonstrates that despite the regional industrial context, local tap water remains clean, well-monitored, and highly reliable for everyday use.

Water quality data is sourced from the U.S. EPA SDWIS database and updated quarterly. Learn about our scoring methodology → Read our Ohio water quality rankings report →

Key Contaminants

Gross Alpha Particle Activity
12.9999 / 15 pCi/L
0 pCi/L MCL: 15 pCi/L
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)
0.0033 / 0.004 μg/L
0 μg/L MCL: 0.004 μg/L
Radium-226
4.0581 / 5 pCi/L
0 pCi/L MCL: 5 pCi/L
Copper
0.7939 / 1.3 mg/L
0 mg/L MCL: 1.3 mg/L
Atrazine
0.9379 / 3 μg/L
0 μg/L MCL: 3 μg/L
Turbidity
0.2932 / 1 NTU
0 NTU MCL: 1 NTU

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Water Systems Serving Cincinnati (1)

Related

Compare Cincinnati water quality: View all states · Contaminant library · How we score water quality