Is Ohio Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Water quality data for 34 cities across Ohio. Find your city below.
Water quality in Ohio varies significantly from city to city. Across 34 cities we track, hardness ranges from 123 PPM in Cincinnati to 360 PPM in Wooster, with a statewide average of 219 PPM. 34 of 34 cities have hard water above 120 PPM where a water softener provides measurable benefits.
10 Ohio cities have forever chemicals (PFAS) above the EPA's 2024 limit of 4 parts per trillion: Wooster (40.1 ppt), Mason (14.2 ppt), Dayton (25.98 ppt), Kettering (31.52 ppt), Columbus Northwest (45.38 ppt), and 5 more. A reverse osmosis system or NSF P473-certified filter can reduce PFAS to safe levels.
Complete Ohio Guide
Statewide water quality overview, costs, and treatment recommendations.
Well Water in Ohio
Testing, treatment, and common issues for private wells.
Hardest Water Rankings
Ohio cities ranked by water hardness level.
City Treatment Guides
Sized recommendations based on each city's specific water data.
Mason
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterColumbus Northwest
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterColumbus
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterBeachwood
🧂 Best SoftenerToledo
🧂 Best SoftenerParma
🧂 Best SoftenerCleveland
🧂 Best SoftenerAkron
🧂 Best SoftenerCincinnati
🧂 Best Softener 🔬 Best FilterCity Comparisons
Wooster vs Cincinnati
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Wooster vs Medina
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
Medina vs Delaware
Side-by-side water quality comparison.
More for Ohio
Moving to Columbus NorthwestMoving to ColumbusMoving to BeachwoodSoftener Cost in MasonSoftener Cost in Columbus NorthwestSoftener Cost in ColumbusOhio Cities by Water Hardness
| City | Hardness (PPM) | Level | PFAS (ppt) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wooster | 360 | Extremely Hard | 40.1 | Local wells |
| Medina | 340 | Extremely Hard | 15.5 | Local wells |
| Delaware | 320 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Olentangy River + wells |
| Lewis Center | 320 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Hoover Reservoir + wells |
| Westerville | 300 | Extremely Hard | 5.6 | Hoover Reservoir |
| West Chester | 300 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Great Miami Aquifer |
| Fairfield | 290 | Extremely Hard | 18.35 | Great Miami Aquifer |
| Findlay | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Blanchard River & wells |
| Mason | 280 | Extremely Hard | 14.2 | Great Miami River aquifer |
| Gahanna | 280 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Hoover Reservoir |
| Zanesville | 275 | Extremely Hard | 23.2 | Muskingum River |
| Newark | 270 | Extremely Hard | 9.5 | Licking River & local wells |
| Dayton | 267 | Extremely Hard | 25.98 | Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer |
| Springfield | 265 | Extremely Hard | 0 | Buck Creek & Mad River aquifer |
| Kettering | 260 | Extremely Hard | 31.52 | Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer |
| Columbus Northwest | 260 | Extremely Hard | 45.38 | Scioto River + reservoirs |
| Stow | 200 | Very Hard | 0 | Local wells + Lake Erie |
| Strongsville | 200 | Very Hard | 0 | Lake Erie via Cleveland Water |
| Columbus | 180 | Very Hard | 45.38 | Scioto River + reservoirs |
| Lorain | 178 | Hard | 8.1 | Lake Erie |
| Mansfield | 165 | Hard | 0 | Clear Fork Reservoir |
| Youngstown | 160 | Hard | 18.6 | Meander Creek Reservoir |
| Elyria | 155 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie & Black River |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 155 | Hard | 0 | Cuyahoga River & LeBlanc-Schisler Re… |
| Mentor | 150 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie |
| Beachwood | 150 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie via Cleveland Water |
| Toledo | 148 | Hard | 5 | Lake Erie |
| Parma | 145 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie |
| Cleveland | 136 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie |
| Akron | 135 | Hard | 12.3 | Lake Rockwell, Cuyahoga River |
| Lakewood | 135 | Hard | 0 | Lake Erie |
| Hamilton | 128 | Hard | 12.7 | Great Miami River wells |
| Canton | 125 | Hard | 0 | Sippo Creek wells, Tuscawaras River |
| Cincinnati | 123 | Hard | 14.2 | Ohio River |