Lake Erie

Great Lake · Midwest/Northeast

Serves 12 cities in our database · ~5,084,966 residents

156
Avg Hardness (PPM)
1.1
Avg PFAS (ppt)
2.4
Avg Lead (ppb)
12
Cities Served
Soft
0Slightly
60Moderate
120Hard
180Very Hard
250Extreme
400+
156 PPM Hard
CONTAMINANT LEVELS Hardness 156 PPM TDS 245 PPM PFAS 1.1 ppt Lead 2.4 ppb Chlorine 0.9 mg/L Nitrate 0.5 mg/L

About Lake Erie

Lake Erie provides drinking water to over 11 million people in four states and Canada. It is the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes, making it most susceptible to algal blooms.

Geography & Hydrology

Lake Erie covers 9,910 square miles with an average depth of only 62 feet. The western basin near Toledo is especially shallow and warm, leading to recurring harmful algal blooms. Cleveland, Buffalo, and Erie all draw from the lake.

How Lake Erie Water Is Treated

Advanced treatment is critical due to algal bloom risk. Most plants use powdered activated carbon during bloom events, followed by conventional treatment and chlorine or chloramine. Toledo has invested heavily in advanced oxidation after the 2014 water crisis.

Across the 12 cities we track, water from Lake Erie averages 156 PPM hardness (Hard), ranging from 130 to 200 PPM. This is moderately hard - many homeowners notice scale buildup on fixtures over time.

Current Challenges

Harmful algal blooms from agricultural phosphorus runoff (the 2014 Toledo crisis left 500,000 without water for three days), invasive zebra and quagga mussels, microplastics, and legacy industrial contamination from Cleveland and Detroit.

Cities Supplied by Lake Erie

Water quality varies by city due to local treatment, distribution infrastructure, and source blending.

Cleveland, OH

136 PPM · Hard 1,308,955 residents

Parma, OH

145 PPM · Hard 1,308,955 residents

Beachwood, OH

150 PPM · Hard 1,308,955 residents

Toledo, OH

148 PPM · Hard 360,000 residents

Buffalo, NY

142 PPM · Hard 276,000 residents

Erie, PA

130 PPM · Hard 220,001 residents

Mentor, OH

150 PPM · Hard 74,500 residents

Lorain, OH

178 PPM · Hard 73,125 residents

Elyria, OH

155 PPM · Hard 68,000 residents

Lakewood, OH

135 PPM · Hard 50,942 residents

Stow, OH

200 PPM · Very Hard 35,437 residents

Strongsville, OH

200 PPM · Very Hard 96 residents

Recommended for Lake Erie Water

Based on average water quality across 12 cities supplied by Lake Erie.

Salt-Free Conditioner SpringWell FutureSoft ~$1,549 Test Your Tap Home Water Test Kit ~$30

Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission on purchases. Recommendations based on water quality data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Erie water safe to drink?
Water from Lake Erie meets EPA safety standards in all served cities. Contaminant levels are within legal limits, though additional filtration can improve quality beyond legal minimums.
Why is Lake Erie water moderately hard?
Lake Erie water picks up dissolved calcium and magnesium from the geological formations along its path. At 156 PPM average, this makes it hard.
How many people drink Lake Erie water?
Lake Erie supplies drinking water to 12 cities in our database, serving approximately 5,084,966 residents. The largest cities include Cleveland, OH; Parma, OH; Beachwood, OH.
Do I need a water filter for Lake Erie water?
It depends on your priorities. Lake Erie water is relatively clean, but a point-of-use filter can reduce chlorine taste and provide additional contaminant protection.