Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in DAYTON, Ohio

Served by DAYTON PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. 141,407 residents.

Average score 61/100
Utilities 1
Population 141,407
D
61/100
Below Average
ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Quick answer

Tap water in DAYTON, Ohio receives a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by DAYTON PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in DAYTON's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving DAYTON.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 3.91 ppt, 3914x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 10.3 ppb, 172x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 22.8 ppb, 152x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Recommended filters for DAYTON

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in DAYTON's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

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 DAYTON'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
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)
PFAS
3.91 ppt 0.001 10.0 3914× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Disinfection byproduct
10.3 ppb 0.06 172× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
22.8 ppb 0.15 80.0 100 152× over
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
6.54 ppb 0.06 109× over
Dibromoacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
2.38 ppb 0.03 79× over
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection byproduct
6.02 ppb 0.1 60× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
5.51 ppb 0.1 60.0 60 55× over
Chloroform
Disinfection byproduct
6.76 ppb 0.4 17× over
Dichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
2.81 ppb 0.2 14× over
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)
PFAS
2.64 ppt 0.3 4.0 100 100 1 8.8× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
0.767 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 5.5× over
Nitrate and nitrite
Inorganic
0.705 ppm 0.14 10.0 11.3 11.3 10 5.0× over
Chromium (hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.0823 ppb 0.02 4.1× over
Bromoform
Disinfection byproduct
1.74 ppb 0.5 3.5× over
Trichloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
0.333 ppb 0.1 3.3× over
1,4-Dioxane
Semi-volatile organic compound
0.185 ppb 0.35 50 1 Below guideline
Molybdenum
Other
4.61 ppb 40.0 Below guideline
Barium
Heavy metal
73.7 ppb 700.0 2000.0 1300 2000 Below guideline
Manganese
Heavy metal
7.55 ppb 100.0 50 80 Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid
Disinfection byproduct
1.3 ppb 53.0 Below guideline
Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA)
PFAS
1.79 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA)
PFAS
1.73 ppt 1000.0 Below guideline
Strontium
Radiological
0.531 ppb 1500.0 Below guideline
Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS)
PFAS
0.075 ppt 2000.0 Below guideline
2-Methoxyethanol
Other
3.25 ppb Below guideline
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene
Volatile organic compound
0.0974 ppb 70.0 Below guideline
Fluoride
Inorganic
0.878 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 DAYTON PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.

Treatment Plant

FacilityDAYTON PWS MIAMI PLANT