Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Cincinnati?
Yes, Cincinnati's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Cincinnati has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Cincinnati's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Cincinnati's water utility, Cincinnati Public Water System, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the Cincinnati Public Water System water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Cincinnati Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Cincinnati tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Cincinnati's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Cincinnati Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Cincinnati Public Water System for Cincinnati in Ohio. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
Is there Lead in Cincinnati Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Cincinnati water system, Cincinnati Public Water System, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00322 mg/L of lead in Cincinnati water. This is 21.5% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Cincinnati contained more lead.
While Cincinnati water testing may have found 0.00322 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Cincinnati Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Wright-Patterson Air Force Base - near Cincinnati with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Cincinnati has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
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| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
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For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Cincinnati Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Mail: | 4747 SPRING GROVE AVE CINCINNATI, OH, 45232 |
Existing customers can login to their Cincinnati Public Water System account to pay their Cincinnati water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Cincinnati Public Water System bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Cincinnati water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Cincinnati water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Cincinnati means you will often need to put the water in your name with Cincinnati Public Water System. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Cincinnati means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Cincinnati Public Water System. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.5 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Cincinnati, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Cincinnati Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Cincinnati's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
Using the most advanced technology to bring
you the cleanest, highest quality...
Our Most Essential Resource
2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
Where Your Water Comes From
GCWW supplies water from two sources: the Ohio River and the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer (GMBVA). Surface water from the Ohio River is treated at the Richard Miller Treatment Plant. This plant, located on the east side of Hamilton County, supplies about 88% of drinking water to GCWW’s customers. The Charles M. Bolton Treatment Plant treats groundwater from 13 wells in the GMBVA. It is located in the southern part of Butler County and supplies about 12% of drinking water to GCWW customers.
Service Area Map
City of Cincinnati
(Retail Service Area)
GCWW Retail |
City of |
Service Areas |
Lebanon |
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Only Your Tap Water Delivers These Protective Benefits
Protection of Public Health and Welfare
A safe water supply is critical to protecting public health. In the United States, water utilities monitor for more than 100 contaminants and must meet close to 90 regulations for water supply and quality. The same system of water mains, pumps and storage tanks transports water to home faucets and fire hydrants.
GCWW also takes great care to protect your water supply from chemical spills into the Ohio River that may contaminate the drinking water supply. GCWW has the ability to shut down river intake pumping, utilize stored and supplementary water until the spill passes, and use advanced treatment systems to remove contaminants.
Wholesale Areas
County Boundaries
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Dearborn
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Sources of Your Drinking Water
The sources of drinking water - both tap and bottled - include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
• Microbial contaminants, |
such as viruses and bacteria, |
which may come from sewage |
treatment plants, septic systems, |
agricultural livestock operations |
and wildlife; |
are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems; and
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Radioactive contaminants, which can be
naturally-occurring or the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
Ohio River
occurring minerals (in some cases
• Inorganic contaminants, such |
Burlington
Belleview
Hathaway
Rabbit Hash
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Pierce Twp.
Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) supplies an average of more than
radioactive material) and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. As with all surface waters, the Ohio EPA has classified the Ohio River as highly susceptible to potential contamination. The Ohio EPA has also classified our portion of the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer as highly susceptible to contamination due to lack of an overlaying protective clay layer, the
as salts and metals, which can |
be |
from urban stormwater runoff, |
industrial or domestic wastewater |
discharges, oil and gas |
production, mining or farming; |
• Pesticides and herbicides, which |
may come from variety of sources |
such as agriculture, urban |
stormwater runoff and |
residential uses; |
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Verona
accounts, representing more than
1.1 million customers. The GCWW service area has grown to include the entire City of Cincinnati, most of Hamilton County and parts of Butler, Warren and Clermont Counties in
Ohio, and Boone County in Kentucky.
presence of low levels of nitrate in the groundwater, and the presence of nearby potential contaminant sources.
• Organic chemical contaminants, |
including synthetic and volatile |
organic chemicals, which |
2 |
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2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
Treatment Process at the Richard Miller Plant on the Ohio River
Protecting Your Drinking Water
ORSANCO Monitoring Locations Map
NY
Coagulation |
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settling |
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pH adjusted again,
chlorine added, fluoride added
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GCWW actively participates in two regional collaborative source water protection programs:
1. Protection of the Ohio River |
in the Cincinnati Area |
GCWW has partnered with |
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District and the Ohio River |
Valley Water Sanitation |
Commission (ORSANCO) |
to implement an Ohio EPA- |
endorsed source water protection |
program for the Ohio River |
near Cincinnati. ORSANCO |
maintains 17 monitoring stations |
strategically placed along the |
Ohio River to detect and warn |
drinking water treatment |
plants about spills. GCWW |
participates as one of the |
monitoring stations for |
this program. |
2. Protection of the Great |
Miami Buried Valley Aquifer |
The Hamilton to New Baltimore |
Groundwater Consortium |
is comprised of seven public |
and industrial ground water |
producers/suppliers in southwest |
Ohio. The Consortium |
maintains a network of early- |
warning monitoring stations, |
works with facilities that |
store hazardous substances to |
minimize the risk of spills, and |
educates the public on what they |
can do to protect groundwater. |
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PADUCAH |
Cumberland R. |
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ORSANCO Monitoring Station |
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For more information about source water protection or to find out what you can do to help, visit myGCWW.org, email
A Leader in Water Quality Treatment and Technology
GCWW uses
GCWW typically treats 120 million gallons of water a day, and more than 600 daily tests ensure that all the aforementioned treatments are effective.
GCWW also treats the drinking water specifically to minimize the amount of lead that may leach into the drinking water — this treatment process is called corrosion control. This process ensures there is no lead in the water as it leaves GCWW treatment plants and minimizes the chance that lead can be picked up from home plumbing. Page 5 illustrates the treatment processes at the Richard Miller and Charles M. Bolton Plants.
Backwash water from the sand filters and plant recycle water is returned to the beginning of the treatment process.
Treatment Process at the Charles M. Bolton Plant on the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer
Lime Added to |
Lime Settles, |
Chlorine and |
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pH adjusted |
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Gravel Filter Water |
Reservoir |
Well
To Distribution System
Granular Activated Carbon |
Ultraviolet Disinfection |
GCWW’s Richard Miller Treatment Plant is one of only a few water treatment plants in the nation that incorporates granular activated carbon (GAC) with
This
GCWW is the largest water utility in North America to use UV disinfection following rapid sand filtration and GAC adsorption. UV disinfection, which uses rays of intense light to disinfect water, is one of
the most effective methods used to protect against microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium. GCWW’s rapid sand filtration, granular activated carbon (GAC) and UV treatment processes create a
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5 |
2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
GCWW Meets or Exceeds All State and Federal Health Standards
GCWW is proud to say that our water meets or exceeds every health standard developed by both the USEPA and Ohio EPA. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations establish limits for contaminants in
bottled water, which shall provide the same protection for public health. The tables on pages
Regulated Contaminants (Table A): Substances subject to a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Action Level (AL), or Treatment Technique (TT). These standards protect drinking water by limiting the amount of certain substances that can adversely affect public health and are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems.
Refer to pages
TABLE A: Regulated Contaminants |
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Miller Water (from the Ohio River) |
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(from the Great Miami Valley Buried Aquifer) |
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Typical Source of Contamination |
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Substance (Unit) |
Maximum Allowed |
MCLG |
Highest Compliance |
Range of |
Violation |
Year |
Highest Compliance |
Range of |
Violation |
Year |
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(MCL) |
Level Detected |
Detection |
Sampled |
Level Detected |
Detection |
Sampled |
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Fluoride (ppm) |
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4 |
4 |
0.88 |
0.68 - 1.04 |
No |
2020 |
0.89 |
0.73 - 1.01 |
No |
2020 |
Additive which promotes strong teeth. |
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May come from erosion of natural deposits. |
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Nitrate (ppm) |
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10 |
10 |
1.00 |
0.50 - 1.00 |
No |
2020 |
1.60 |
na3 |
No |
2020 |
Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, |
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erosion of natural deposits. |
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TTHMs (ppb) [Trihalomethanes]1 |
80 |
na |
57.0 |
12.8 - 56.9 |
No |
2020 |
57.0 |
12.8 - 56.9 |
No |
2020 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination. |
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HAA5 (ppb) [Haloacetic Acids]1 |
60 |
na |
12.3 |
1.89 - 15.6 |
No |
2020 |
12.3 |
1.89 - 15.6 |
No |
2020 |
Byproduct of drinking water chlorination. |
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TT1 < 1 NTU Max and |
na |
0.09 |
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Turbidity (NTU) |
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TT2 < 0.3 NTU |
0.01 - 0.09 |
No |
2020 |
nr |
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No |
na |
Soil runoff. |
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100% < 0.3 NTU |
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AL = 15 |
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90th percentile 5.00 ppb |
nd - 30.5 |
No |
2020 |
90th percentile 5.00 ppb |
nd - 30.5 |
No |
2020 |
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Lead1 |
(the 90th percentile |
0 |
(1 out of 134 samples tested during the first compliance |
(1 out of 134 samples tested during the first compliance |
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must be less than 15 |
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period was > the AL)4 |
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Copper1 |
AL = 1.3 |
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90th percentile 0.022 ppm |
nd - 0.066 |
No |
2020 |
90th percentile 0.022 ppm |
nd - 0.066 |
No |
2020 |
May come from erosion of natural deposits. There is no detectable |
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1.3 |
(0 out of 134 samples tested during the first compliance |
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lead in our water as it leaves the treatment plants. However, corrosion |
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be less than 1.3 ppm) |
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period were > the AL) |
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period were > the AL) |
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of household plumbing is a source of lead and copper contamination. |
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AL = 15 |
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90th percentile 6.00 ppb |
nd - 41.4 |
No |
2020 |
90th percentile 6.00 ppb |
nd - 41.4 |
No |
2020 |
GCWW tests water samples collected at customers taps, as required |
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Lead1 |
(the 90th percentile |
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by the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure safe water. |
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(5 out of 110 samples tested during the second compliance |
(5 out of 110 samples tested during the second compliance |
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must be less than 15 |
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period were > the AL)4 |
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period were > the AL)4 |
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Copper1 |
AL = 1.3 |
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90th percentile 0.021 ppm |
nd - 0.043 |
No |
2020 |
90th percentile 0.021 ppm |
nd - 0.043 |
No |
2020 |
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(the 90th percentile must |
1.3 |
(0 out of 110 samples tested during the second compliance |
(0 out of 110 samples tested during the second compliance |
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be less than 1.3 ppm) |
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period were > the AL) |
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period were > the AL) |
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Total Organic Carbon2 |
TT |
na |
2.23 |
1.92 - 3.25 |
No |
2020 |
nr |
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No |
na |
Naturally present in the environment. |
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Total Chlorine1 (ppm) |
MRDL = 4 |
MRDLG = 4 |
1.17 |
1.05 - 1.27 |
No |
2020 |
1.17 |
1.05 - 1.27 |
No |
2020 |
Water additive used to control microbes. |
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Barium (ppm) |
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2 |
2 |
0.028 |
na3 |
No |
2020 |
0.013 |
na3 |
No |
2020 |
Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge of drilling wastes; |
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Discharge from metal refineries. |
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7 |
2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
Unregulated Contaminants (Table B): Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.
TABLE B: Unregulated Contaminants |
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Miller Water (from the Ohio River) |
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Bolton Water (from the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer) |
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Typical Source of Contamination |
Substance (Unit) |
MCLG |
Average Level |
Range of |
Violation |
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Year |
Average Level |
Range of |
Violation |
Year |
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Detected |
Detection |
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Sampled |
Detected |
Detection |
Sampled |
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Chloroform (ppb)1 |
70 |
8.37 |
nd - 28.86 |
na |
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2020 |
8.37 |
nd - 28.86 |
na |
2020 |
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Bromodichloromethane (ppb)1 |
0 |
7.27 |
1.95 - 13.45 |
na |
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2020 |
7.27 |
1.95 - 13.45 |
na |
2020 |
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Dibromochloromethane (ppb)1 |
60 |
9.60 |
3.06 - 19.81 |
na |
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2020 |
9.60 |
3.06 - 19.81 |
na |
2020 |
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Bromoform (ppb)1 |
0 |
6.22 |
nd - 16.08 |
na |
|
2020 |
6.22 |
nd - 16.08 |
na |
2020 |
Byproducts of drinking water disinfection, measured at |
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Monochloroacetic Acid (ppb)1 |
70 |
nd |
nd - nd |
na |
|
2020 |
nd |
nd - nd |
na |
2020 |
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representative points in the distribution system. |
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Monobromoacetic Acid (ppb)1 |
na |
nd |
nd - 1.88 |
na |
|
2020 |
nd |
nd - 1.88 |
na |
2020 |
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Dichloroacetic Acid (ppb)1 |
0 |
3.32 |
nd - 10.0 |
na |
|
2020 |
3.32 |
nd - 10.0 |
na |
2020 |
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Trichloroacetic Acid (ppb)1 |
20 |
nd |
nd - 3.72 |
na |
|
2020 |
nd |
nd - 3.72 |
na |
2020 |
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Dibromoacetic Acid (ppb)1 |
na |
3.02 |
1.45 - 6.08 |
na |
|
2020 |
3.02 |
1.45 - 6.08 |
na |
2020 |
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Sulfate (ppm) |
na |
58 |
43 - 76 |
na |
|
2020 |
42 |
42 - 43 |
na |
2020 |
Erosion of natural deposits. |
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Definitions
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG:
The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Contaminant
Level or MCL:
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Action Level or AL: The concentration of a contaminant, which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system shall follow.
Treatment Technique or TT: A method for treating water to achieve acceptable levels of the
contaminants in lieu of establishing a maximum contaminant level.
Maximum Residual Disinfection Level or MRDL:
The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goal or MRDLG:
The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.
Turbidity:
Utilities who treat surface water are required to report on turbidity as an indication of the effectiveness of the filtration system. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. The turbidity limit set by the EPA is 0.3 NTU in 95% of the samples
analyzed each month, and shall not exceed 1 NTU at any time. As reported in the table, GCWW’s highest turbidity result for 2020 was 0.09 NTU (Miller Water) and lowest monthly percentage of samples meeting the turbidity limits was 100%.
The < symbol:
A symbol which means less than. A result of <5 means that the lowest level that could be detected was 5 and the contaminant in that sample was not detected.
Lead Threshold Level:
The concentration of lead in an individual tap water sample. The lead threshold level is exceeded at 0.015 milligrams per liter (15 ppb) concentration of lead in an individual tap water sample.
Abbreviations
ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter; ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter;
nr: not regulated;
na: not applicable;
NTU: Nephelometric
Turbidity Unit (used to measure clarity in drinking water);
nd: not detectable at testing limits;
TTHMs: Total Trihalomethanes;
HAA5: Haloacetic Acids
Footnotes: 1. Miller and Bolton were considered as one distribution system for regulatory purposes by Ohio EPA during 2020. Data listed for each system represents the combined distribution system. 2. The value reported under “Highest Compliance Level Detected” for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is the lowest ratio between percentage of TOC actually removed to the percentage of TOC required to be removed. A value of greater than one (1) indicates that the water system is in compliance with TOC removal requirements. A value of less than one
-
indicates a violation of the TOC removal requirements. 3. GCWW collects one sample per year. 4. 1 out of 134 samples was found to have lead levels in excess of the lead threshold level of 15 ppb during the first compliance period of 2020
(Jan-June): 1 result between30-40 ppb. 5 out of 110 samples were found to have lead levels in excess of the lead threshold level of 15 ppb during the second compliance period of 2020(July-Dec): 2 results between15-20 ppb; 2 results between20-30 ppb; 1 result between40-50 ppb.
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2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
Frequently Asked Questions
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1 |
2 |
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If there are reported |
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What is |
contaminants, how can |
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Cryptosporidium? |
my water be safe? |
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the American Dental Association, persons who drink fluoridated water have a 20% to 40% reduction in the amount of cavities that would have
is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. GCWW is responsible for providing high
6
Sometimes my water
is
Is this safe?
occurs more often in the winter when drinking water is cold. Air does not affect the safety of water.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk.
However, some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline
at 800.426.4791.
Cryptosporidium (Crypto) is a microscopic organism, that when ingested, can result in diarrhea, fever and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Crypto is found in surface waters and comes from animal and human waste.
GCWW routinely tests for Crypto and did not detect it in our finished water in 2020. GCWW also tested for Crypto in the Ohio River surface water and it was detected in 3 of 12 samples during 2020. USEPA/ CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791.
3
Why is fluoride added
to my water?
Fluoride is added to the water to protect teeth as required by a state law passed in 1969. According to
occurred without fluoride. Some home filtration devices remove fluoride. Bottled water may not contain fluoride.
4
What is the amount of sodium added to my water?
GCWW has tested for sodium in treated water as it leaves the treatment plants and has found 25 mg (milligrams) per liter in the Richard Miller Water and 32 mg per liter in the Charles M. Bolton Water. There are approximately four cups in a liter.
5
Is there lead in
my water?
There is no detectable lead in drinking water as it leaves the treatment plants. If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water
quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds
to 3 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested.
A list of laboratories certified in the State of Ohio may be found at epa.ohio.gov/ddagw or by calling 614.644.2752. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline 800.426.4791 or at epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Lead information can be found online at Lead.myGCWW.org or by calling 513.651.LEAD (5323). Our lead program is being used to meet a portion of the notification requirements in OAC Rule
The
If you have questions or your laundry is stained from rusty water, call GCWW at 513.591.7700. We will deliver a laundry aid to remove the rust. Do NOT put stained laundry in the dryer.
7
Why does drinking water sometimes look cloudy?
Cloudy water that clears quickly from the bottom up is caused by tiny air bubbles in the water similar to gas bubbles in soda. After a while, the bubbles rise to the top and disappear. This cloudiness
8
How hard is
GCWW’s water?
Hard water is water that contains more minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Water from GCWW’s Richard Miller Plant has an average hardness of 113 mg per liter or 7 grains per gallon. Water from the Charles M. Bolton Plant averages 133 mg per liter or 8 grains per gallon. Hardness does not affect the safety of water.
10 |
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11 |
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2 0 2 0 G C W W WAT E R Q UA L I T Y R E P O R T
For More
Information About...
Lead Awareness
Website: lead.myGCWW.org
Phone: 513.651.LEAD (5323)
USEPA Safe Drinking Water Website:
Safe Drinking Water Hotline:
800.426.4791
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA)
Website: fda.gov
Phone: 888.463.6332
NSF International
Website: nsf.org
Phone: 800.673.6275
Contact GCWW
For more information about water quality, customer billing, or to request additional copies or submit comments about this report, call 513.591.7700 or visit myGCWW.org.
Attend the Following Meetings to Participate in Water Decisions:
City of Cincinnati Council
Website:
Phone: 513.352.3246
ORSANCO
Website: orsanco.org
Phone: 513.231.7719
OKI Regional Council of Governments Groundwater Committee
Website: oki.org
Phone: 513.621.6300
Educational Resources
Two online Teacher Resource areas are available for teachers, students and parents. These sites are full of educational resources, videos, activity ideas, links, and more
Water Quality
Website:
Stormwater
Website:
This report meets the Ohio and USEPA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for Consumer Confidence Reports. GCWW has a current unconditioned license to operate.
City of Cincinnati is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
Notice Under the ADA: The City of Cincinnati will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its programs, services, or activities. If you require any special accommodations or communication aids visit
Contaminants
Cincinnati Public Water System
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency - Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 749000
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 21
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Bromoform
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Barium
- Chlorate
- Dibromoacetic acid
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Molybdenum
- Monobromoacetic acid
- Monochloroacetic acid
- Strontium
- Trichloroacetic acid
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Cincinnati Tap Water
The drinking water quality in Cincinnati is among the best in the nation, according to the American Water Works Association. The group evaluates publicly funded agencies that provide clean and safe drinking water for all Cincinnati residents. The water is tested on a regular basis, and the data is used to give the consumers a picture of what they can expect from their local treatment facilities. There are many forms of water filters available, both at stores and online, but not all of them are created equal. Here are some tips to help you find the best tap water filters for your home.
Most tap water contains chromium, which is a naturally occurring mineral. It is an important part of complex chemistry in making the body function normally, and it helps to control muscle movement and other processes. Chromium is present in trace amounts in many other foods and drinks, including oranges, bananas, strawberries, coffee, and rice. When it comes into contact with chlorine or other chemicals during its production and processing, chromium gets reduced, so it is very important for the drinking water quality to have a good level of chromium. If there are too many levels of chromium in the water, or if there are too many different types of contaminants, it can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms in people. One of the easiest and most efficient ways to increase the chromium content in drinking water is with a water filter that uses a patented multi-stage filtration system.
Water filters made with certain technologies are designed to remove chlorine, lead, pesticides, herbicides, cysts, odor, and other contaminants. These systems are also designed to provide an exceptional degree of taste and odor control. They will provide you with a great tasting, crystal clear water that will quench your thirst and keep you healthy. The multi-stage filtration systems are especially beneficial to those people that suffer from such common illnesses as diabetes, kidney stones, and high blood pressure. With these great new filters, you can finally feel healthy again.
Cincinnati Drinking Water
How can you be sure that your tap water is safe when there are so many water purification systems out there claiming to help keep Cincinnati drinking water clean? There are so many different types of purification systems and it seems like every week a new one comes on the market. It seems like they all say they will give you pure, great-tasting water, but after you buy them and try them out, you find out they aren’t even close to being able to keep your water clean. It’s hard to believe that something that costs hundreds of dollars can turn out to be so ineffective. You just don’t know what the companies are putting in their systems because they don’t always tell you about the long-term effects of these products.
Even though you may see different ads for the different purification systems, the most effective are the ones that contain the most effective ingredient, Chromium 6. The first thing that anyone can tell you is that not only does this remove any harmful elements, but it also removes all of the toxins that have been building up in your body from years of exposure to chemicals and pollutants in the air and water. Chromium is known for being a strong metal that is very easy to incorporate into your daily routine without you even realizing it. When there are chemicals in your tap water quality, such as Chromium, then the quality will start to diminish. You can take Chromium supplements that will help improve the quality of your drinking water.
Now, you may think that all of the time you spend at the water faucet is wasted, but you’d be surprised how much time is actually wasted at your home. Most people do not realize that their dishwasher and washing machine don’t get rid of all the harmful chemicals that are in the tap. They leave the chemicals in the drinking water, which can cause cancer and other health problems later in life. It is very important to have high-quality drinking water at home for yourself, for your family, and for everyone that uses your water. The easiest way to make sure you have the best water quality is to install a quality water filtration system.
Cincinnati Water Treatment
If you are serviced by the Cincinnati water treatment plant, you will find that they provide treatment of the public water supply for the entire city. The treatment of this water supply has become a priority over the years due to the increasing number of chemical contamination in the water. In addition, there has been an increase in the presence of bacteria in the drinking water. There have also been instances where small animals such as rodents and birds have died as a result of the large amounts of chlorine in their system.
This increased pressure on the treatment facility has prompted the installation of more sophisticated equipment to remove the chlorine from the Cincinnati water supply. The most recent addition to the complex is the Combination Ultra Violet (UV) treatment which uses the ultraviolet rays of the sun to kill bacteria and keep the chlorine levels up in the water. The technology is somewhat similar to that used in the medical field. The only real difference is that instead of liquid being exposed to the UV, the water is bathed in the ultra-violet rays. This is believed to increase the efficiency with which the bacteria are killed. It is not clear how much of this method is actually necessary, but because of the increase in chlorine levels, more of this UV is necessary.
One of the problems the Cincinnati water treatment plant faces is that the amount of chlorine in the water that they need to keep it pure is often too high. The Environmental Protection Agency requires that the amount of chlorine in the water produced to be at least two parts per million, but in Cincinnati, the amount is five parts per million. This may sound excessive, but there are several reasons why the level needs to be regulated. One is that the growth of algae has been found to be caused by a large amount of chlorine in the water, so another step would be to use a low-chlorine water treatment system. Another is that if too many people in Cincinnati use bottled water, then the water treatment plant is under orders to reduce the amount of chlorine in the supply. By using these complex methods, they are able to provide clean, clear, purified water.
Cincinnati Water Quality
There is a big joke in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the water is called Blue. The joke is because of all the chemical pollutants that are found in the water. The majority of these are found in the water treatment plant along the Cincinnati Lucifer road. This water treatment plant was built in the early part of the 1930s with the concept of treating raw water and not just boiling it. During World War II the need for a large amount of safe drinking water for the soldiers was so great that this water quality was of the utmost importance.
There are three chlorine filters in all of the treatment plants throughout the city. This filtering system works by passing water over different-sized beds of gravel. Each gravel contains a certain amount of chlorine. The chlorine kills any bacteria or germs in the water that are smaller than the blades of the chlorine unit itself. Any water that does not contain enough chlorine to kill all of the microorganisms in the water will then be pushed through a chemical filtration unit.
In order to meet the standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is an additional stage added to the process. The last of the three stages is called catalytic treatment. This stage of treatment will use the hydrogen peroxide produced from the chlorine in the water to break down any other larger compounds in the water. This includes things like dirt or metal debris that were not killed by the chlorine. After the water leaves the chemical treatment plant, it will then go through further purification to remove any remaining bacteria or sediment that could cause harm to human health or the environment. All of these steps are necessary to provide you with quality water that is consistently good for you and your family.
Cincinnati Water
You may have heard that there are many benefits of having a water purifier in your home, including drinking water that is cleaner, and more importantly, one that is healthier for you. The same can be said about your tap water, as it is the water that we drink most of the time that has the largest amount of impurities that can cause us harm. If you want to know if you are getting the quality that you need, and that your water is clean enough to give you all of those great benefits, you will want to find Cincinnati water filters that can help you do just that. You will find that there are many options when it comes to purifying your drinking water and that not all of them are as effective or beneficial as the next. That is why you will want to make sure that you find a purifier that works well to provide you with quality water for all of the activities that you participate in when you are home.
There are a number of different pollutants that are found in your drinking water, and one of the most common is chromium. Chromium is a metal that can cause a number of different medical problems, from an increased risk of colon cancer to developing diabetes. You will often see people suffering from such illnesses when they are unable to properly process chromium. By purifying your water to remove the chromium that can cause you such health issues, you will be able to improve your overall health and feel much better, especially after a long day at work or in school.
The best thing about water filters is that they can be customized to meet your specific needs and to guarantee that the water that you use is clean enough to give you the type of protection that you need. You can get water filters that work to remove a variety of metals and microorganisms, and even chemicals like herbicides and pesticides. You will find that there are many great benefits when you consider the many options that are available to you. If you are tired of always having to worry about what is in your water, and how it affects your health, then you will want to check out some of the many different options that are available, including water filters for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Water Utility
The Electric Reliability Council (ERC) gives Cincinnati water utility companies a “consumer-grade” rating, a ranking from A to F, where A is the highest and F is the lowest. You may be wondering why the ratings are important. They are because the cost of an electric failure could cause a domino effect with many other services. If your home had a major electric failure the next time you turned on your water heater to the cost of all your other water services would increase by at least 20% or more.
When you call the Cincinnati telephone number on the label of your tank to find out if your service is rated as “A”, the company should provide you with the rating for at least three years. If it is not, the electrician you are working with should be able to get it changed so that your water is “A”. In some cases, the electrician may have recommended the “A” rating, but if that is not the case, the electric company should be able to get the problem fixed, restore the “A” rating to “A” and get your meter back into a “B” or “C” rating. The “A” rating is there so that customers can get an idea of the cost to service your water facility.
If the electrician cannot make any improvements and your water utility has moved into a higher rating, the city government may come in and give your business a tax incentive. This is how you can know if you are getting the best deal and what kind of incentives you may be entitled to. As a “B” customer, you should watch your water utility bill every month to make sure it does not increase. When you go out and buy bottled water or turn to the Internet, you are doing a great service to the community and to yourself. You do not have to pay a fortune to have great water.