Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Cincinnati, OH tap water
26 contaminants were measured in the Cincinnati, OH water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 26
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Copper
- Service area
- OH
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0–481 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 1.3 mg/LAction level | At or above the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0–253 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 15 ug/LAction level | At or above the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.04 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 14–60.3 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 80 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 2–13.2 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 60 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
| DibromochloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 10.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 60 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| ChloroformA trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. | 11.1 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 70 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| BromodichloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 8.8 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| BromoformA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 5.4 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.97–1.12 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.72–0.96 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.47–0.96 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Trichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 1.1 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 20 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Monobromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detected ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Dibromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 3 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 3.2 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | 0 ug/LMCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 61 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | 1 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 2 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| Perfluorononanoic acidPerfluorononanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| PFBAPerfluorobutanoic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | None detected |
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | Not detected ng/LAverageSystem-wide | 4 ng/LMCL | None detected |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 2.05–3.22RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.04–0.17 NTURangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Cincinnati, OH's water
+Is Cincinnati, OH tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Cincinnati, OH water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Copper and Lead. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Cincinnati, OH tap water?
26 contaminants were measured in Cincinnati, OH's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning inorganic chemicals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and disinfection byproducts. 21 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Cincinnati, OH tap water?
2 contaminants in Cincinnati, OH's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Copper (370.0× the limit); Lead (16.9× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Cincinnati, OH tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Copper, at 370.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Cincinnati, OH's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Cincinnati, OH's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.