Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,308,955 residents in CLEVELAND, Ohio using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Bromochloroacetic acid significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 216-664-2444.
Is CLEVELAND tap water safe to drink?
CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 1,308,955 residents in CLEVELAND, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Bromochloroacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM (system ID OH1801212) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for CLEVELAND residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 20.5 ppb, 342x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Bromochloroacetic acid significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromochloroacetic acid detected at 3.57 ppb, 178x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.9 ppb, 159x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for CLEVELAND
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 72/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
20.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 342× over |
| Bromochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.57 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 178× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 159× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
14.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 141× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.37 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 106× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.07 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
13.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.46 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.84 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.76 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.408 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.103 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.1× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.289 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
59.9 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0427 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.4 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
1.29 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.309 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.761 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.21 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.169 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide Inorganic |
1.0 ppb | — | 200.0 | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.962 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.01 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for CLEVELAND water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.