Best Water Quality Cities in the US (2025 Rankings)
Which US cities have the cleanest, softest, safest drinking water?
What makes water quality "best"
We rank cities based on a combination of: low hardness (less than 60 PPM), PFAS below detection limits, lead below 3 ppb, low TDS, and protected water source. Cities that score well have naturally clean sources that require minimal treatment.
Top cities for water quality
Portland, OR: Bull Run watershed water is some of the purest in the country. Very soft, minimal treatment needed. Seattle, WA: Protected Cedar River watershed. Extremely soft. Memphis, TN: Deep Memphis Sand Aquifer produces naturally filtered, very soft water. Bend, OR: Cascade mountain spring water. Asheville, NC: Blue Ridge mountain reservoirs. See all cities ranked on our water quality hub.
What they have in common
Protected watersheds (mountains, deep aquifers), favorable geology (granite, volcanic, or deep sand), and minimal upstream industrial or agricultural activity. These cities prove that excellent tap water is possible. the question is whether your city's geology cooperates.