EPA ID OH3102612 · checked 16 Oct 2026
Cincinnati tap water: what EPA testing found
Greater Cincinnati Water Works (EPA record: CINCINNATI PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM) serves 800,000 people in OH from surface water.
What the data shows
PFOS above EPA’s drinking-water limit
In UCMR 5 testing (2023–2024), PFOS averaged up to 5.15 ng/L (limit 4.0) at the worst sampling point. Utilities must meet the limit by 2029 under the current rule; EPA has proposed letting systems ask for until 2031 (not final).
What fits: Pick a filter whose listing certifies PFOA/PFOS (or total PFAS) reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58. Under-sink reverse osmosis units and some carbon filters and pitchers carry it; the certification for the exact model is what counts, not the filter type.
Certified — IAPMO listing, checked 16 Oct 2026- Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10 Cup PitcherPitcher filter · ZEROP10
- PUR PLUS Lead Reducing Pitcher & Dispenser Replacement FilterPitcher filter · PPF951K
- ZeroWater 5-Stage Replacement FilterPitcher filter · ZR-017
- Culligan Scout 2.25 Gallon Gravity Countertop System with MaxClear…Countertop dispenser · MCSP
- PUR Faucet Filtration System, VerticalFaucet-mount filter · FM-3333B
- PUR PLUS Faucet Filtration System – Horizontal, ChromeFaucet-mount filter · PFM400H
- AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water PurifierCountertop reverse osmosis · AT2000
- Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-MF-1
- Culligan EZ-Change Under Sink Drinking Water Filtration SystemUnder-sink filter · US-EZ-4
- APEC Water Tankless RO System 4 Stage Water Filter, 1000 GPD Reverse…Under-sink reverse osmosis · ROTL-A1000
- Waterdrop 800 GPD Tankless Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P800Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P800
- Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P600Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P600
Brand says certified — not found in IAPMO’s listing; check NSF- Aquasana Clean Water MachineCountertop dispenser · AQ-CWM2-B · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6200 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300M · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- A. O. Smith High Efficiency Reverse Osmosis SystemUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AOS-HERO-CHR · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis Water FilterUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AQ-SFRO2 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Culligan Aquasential Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water…Under-sink reverse osmosis · Aquasential Smart RO · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Waterdrop Instant Hot Water Dispenser, Reverse Osmosis System, K6Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-K6-W · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Waterdrop X Series Reverse Osmosis System, X12Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-X12 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana HealthShield Whole House Water Filtration SystemWhole-house filter · WH-HS · check NSF’s listing yourself
NSF’s and WQA’s listings can’t be checked automatically; each product page also links to WQA’s.
Lead from home plumbing (not in this data)
UCMR 5 does not test for lead, and lead usually enters water from service lines and plumbing inside buildings. Your utility’s lead service line inventory says whether your address is served by a lead line.
What fits: Lead comes from lead service lines, solder and fixtures inside buildings, not usually from the treatment plant. Use a filter certified for lead reduction (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58) at the tap you drink from.
Certified — IAPMO listing, checked 16 Oct 2026- Brita Elite Replacement Filter, formerly Longlast+Pitcher filter · OB06
- Culligan with ZeroWater Technology 10 Cup PitcherPitcher filter · ZEROP10
- PUR PLUS Lead Reducing Pitcher & Dispenser Replacement FilterPitcher filter · PPF951K
- ZeroWater 5-Stage Replacement FilterPitcher filter · ZR-017
- Culligan Scout 2.25 Gallon Gravity Countertop System with MaxClear…Countertop dispenser · MCSP
- PUR Faucet Filtration System, VerticalFaucet-mount filter · FM-3333B
- PUR PLUS Faucet Filtration System – Horizontal, ChromeFaucet-mount filter · PFM400H
- AquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse Osmosis Water PurifierCountertop reverse osmosis · AT2000
- Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-MF-1
- Culligan EZ-Change Under Sink Drinking Water Filtration SystemUnder-sink filter · US-EZ-4
- Waterdrop 800 GPD Tankless Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P800Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P800
- Waterdrop G3P600 Reverse Osmosis System - Waterdrop G3P600Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-G3P600
Brand says certified — not found in IAPMO’s listing; check NSF- LifeStraw Home 7-Cup Glass Water Filter PitcherPitcher filter · LSH7SPC101 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Clean Water MachineCountertop dispenser · AQ-CWM2-B · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Brita Elite Advanced Water Filter Faucet System with Brita…Faucet-mount filter · FF-100 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Brita Hub Countertop Water Filter System with Brita Hub FilterCountertop filter · 87340 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6200 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300M · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana Claryum 3-Stage Under Sink Water FilterUnder-sink filter · AQ-6300 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- A. O. Smith High Efficiency Reverse Osmosis SystemUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AOS-HERO-CHR · check NSF’s listing yourself
- APEC Water Tankless RO System 4 Stage Water Filter, 1000 GPD Reverse…Under-sink reverse osmosis · ROTL-A1000 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- APEC Water Ultimate 5-Stage 90 GPD High Output Reverse Osmosis Water…Under-sink reverse osmosis · RO-90 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis Water FilterUnder-sink reverse osmosis · AQ-SFRO2 · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Culligan Aquasential Smart Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water…Under-sink reverse osmosis · Aquasential Smart RO · check NSF’s listing yourself
- iSpring RCC7AK, NSF Certified 75 GPD, Alkaline 6-Stage Reverse…Under-sink reverse osmosis · RCC7AK · check NSF’s listing yourself
- Waterdrop X Series Reverse Osmosis System, X12Under-sink reverse osmosis · WD-X12 · check NSF’s listing yourself
NSF’s and WQA’s listings can’t be checked automatically; each product page also links to WQA’s.
PFAS and lithium (EPA UCMR 5)
180 results from 2 sampling points, 10 May 2023 to 5 Feb 2024. Averages count results below EPA’s reporting level as zero, as the PFAS rule does. Every number links to EPA’s UCMR 5 Data Finder (search PWSID OH3102612). Limits: EPA PFAS rule.
| Contaminant | Detected in | Highest result | Average | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 of 6 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 4 ng/L |
| PFOS | 2 of 6 | 6.1 ng/L | 1.72 ng/L | 4 ng/L |
| PFHxS | 0 of 6 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 10 ng/L* |
| PFNA | 0 of 6 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 10 ng/L* |
| HFPO-DA | 0 of 6 | not detected | 0 ng/L | 10 ng/L* |
| PFBS | 2 of 6 | 4.1 ng/L | 1.3 ng/L | none |
| PFBA | 2 of 6 | 5.2 ng/L | 1.72 ng/L | none |
| Lithium | 0 of 6 | not detected | 0 µg/L | none (screening level 10 µg/L) |
* PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA limits (and the PFAS hazard index) are in the rule, but EPA proposed on 20 May 2026 to rescind them; not final as of 16 Oct 2026. UCMR 5 results are screening data, not compliance results: compliance uses quarterly running averages from 2029. Source file: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data (dated 15 Oct 2026).
Sampling points averaging above a limit
Health-based violations since 2016
None in EPA’s SDWIS data.
Source: EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts and the ECHO report for OH3102612, retrieved 16 Oct 2026.
Hardness
7.4 grains per gallon (Richard Miller plant, about 88% of the water; Bolton plant areas about 8.2 gpg, 2025), from the utility’s water report checked 16 Oct 2026. Size a softener for this water.
| Plant, source or area | Serves | Grains per gallon |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Miller Treatment Plant (Ohio River) | about 88% of GCWW's drinking water (report p.2) | 7.37 |
| Charles M. Bolton Plant (Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer) | – | 8.19 |
From the same report. Which plant or source serves an address depends on where it is; the utility’s report explains its areas.
Places and ZIP codes served
Cincinnati, Addyston, Cleves, Fairfield, Hamilton, Harrison, Loveland, Mason, Miamitown, North Bend, Terrace Park, West Chester.
45001 45002 45013 45014 45030 45040 45041 45052 45069 45140 45174 45202 45203 45204 45205 45206 45207 45208 45209 45211 45212 45213 45214 45215 45216 45217 45218 45219 45220 45221 45223 45224 45225 45226 45227 45229 45230 45231 45232 45233 45236 45237 45238 45239 45240 45241 45242 45243 45244 45245 45246 45247 45248 45249 45251 45252 45255
ZIP codes the system reported to EPA for UCMR 5; place names from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). A ZIP code can be split between systems.