Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Columbus, Ohio
Tap water in Columbus, Ohio receives a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Columbus's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Columbus.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 21.8 ppb, 364x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 41.6 ppb, 277x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 19.7 ppb, 197x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM (system ID OH2504412) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Columbus
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Columbus's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in Columbus's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
21.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 364× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
41.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 277× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
19.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 197× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 169× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
23.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 59× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
5.68 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.79 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.0 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.207 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.46 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.46 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.23 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.5× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.13 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Fails EU |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
0.125 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 1.2× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
79.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
6.94 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.029 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.5 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.346 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.72 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.28 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0686 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0115 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.434 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.925 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Columbus's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: