Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded C (65/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,305,946 residents in COLUMBUS, Ohio using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 614-645-8460.
Is COLUMBUS tap water safe to drink?
COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 1,305,946 residents in COLUMBUS, drawing from surface water. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to haloacetic acids (haa9) significantly above health guideline.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Bromoform, Atrazine, Bromate. 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.
Quick actions for COLUMBUS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM.
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.
Contact COLUMBUS 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 COLUMBUS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 65/100 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
COLUMBUS PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Franklin County, Ohio. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for COLUMBUS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.