Cincinnati, OH: 71 Violations — 66/100 (2026)
71 ZIP codes · 12 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Compared to top-scoring cities in OH, Cincinnati lands in the middle tier — some water systems meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and performance can vary significantly across service areas.
How Cincinnati Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Cincinnati, OH
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Cincinnati score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Cincinnati Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 71 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 79% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,368 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.16 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Cincinnati
Federal records list 12 water systems tied to Cincinnati, OH. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 71 ZIP codes in Cincinnati, Ohio, covering 12 community water systems serving approximately 814,555 people.
71 of 71 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cincinnati: C (66/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Cincinnati water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 70 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 1 ZIP code
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 72 | 71 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45201 | C | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45202 | C | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45203 | C | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45204 | C | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45205 | B | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45206 | B | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45207 | C | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45208 | C | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45209 | B | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
| 45211 | B | 1 | 0 | Cincinnati Public Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Cincinnati
- 45201 [C] — 1 violation
- 45202 [C] — 1 violation
- 45203 [C] — 1 violation
- 45204 [C] — 1 violation
- 45205 [B] — 1 violation
- 45206 [B] — 1 violation
- 45207 [C] — 1 violation
- 45208 [C] — 1 violation
- 45209 [B] — 1 violation
- 45211 [B] — 1 violation
- 45212 [C] — 1 violation
- 45213 [B] — 1 violation
- 45214 [B] — 1 violation
- 45215 [C] — 1 violation
- 45216 [C] — 1 violation
- 45217 [B] — 1 violation
- 45218 [C] — 1 violation
- 45219 [C] — 1 violation
- 45220 [C] — 1 violation
- 45221 [C] — 1 violation
- 45222 [C] — 1 violation
- 45223 [C] — 1 violation
- 45224 [B] — 1 violation
- 45225 [B] — 1 violation
- 45226 [C] — 1 violation
- 45227 [C] — 1 violation
- 45229 [C] — 1 violation
- 45230 [C] — 1 violation
- 45231 [C] — 1 violation
- 45232 [C] — 1 violation
- 45233 [B] — 1 violation
- 45234 [C] — 1 violation
- 45235 [C] — 1 violation
- 45236 [C] — 1 violation
- 45237 [C] — 1 violation
- 45238 [C] — 1 violation
- 45239 [C] — 1 violation
- 45240 [B] — 1 violation
- 45241 [C] — 1 violation
- 45242 [C] — 1 violation
- 45243 [C] — 1 violation
- 45244 [C] — 1 violation
- 45245 [B] — 1 violation
- 45246 [C] — 1 violation
- 45247 [C] — 1 violation
- 45248 [B] — 1 violation
- 45249 [B] — 1 violation
- 45250 [C] — 1 violation
- 45251 [B] — 1 violation
- 45252 [B] — 1 violation
- 45253 [C] — 1 violation
- 45254 [C] — 1 violation
- 45255 [B] — 1 violation
- 45258 [C] — 1 violation
- 45262 [C] — 1 violation
- 45263 [C] — 1 violation
- 45264 [C] — 1 violation
- 45267 [C] — 1 violation
- 45268 [C] — 1 violation
- 45269 [C] — 1 violation
- 45270 [C] — 1 violation
- 45271 [C] — 1 violation
- 45273 [C] — 1 violation
- 45274 [C] — 1 violation
- 45275 [C] — 1 violation
- 45277 [C] — 1 violation
- 45280 [C] — 1 violation
- 45296 [C] — 1 violation
- 45298 [C] — 1 violation
- 45299 [C] — 1 violation
- 45999 [C] — 1 violation
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Cincinnati
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Cincinnati Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Cincinnati
With 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Plumbing risk in older housing is defined by two eras: the pre-1970 period when lead pipes were commonly used for service lines, and the 1970-to-1986 period when lead solder remained standard in copper plumbing until the federal ban. Cincinnati's median build year of 1951 lands in a range where both eras are heavily represented in the housing stock. That creates an elevated aggregate environment for plumbing-related lead exposure — one that city-level water quality averages don't capture, because the risk sits inside individual properties rather than in the distribution system.
Over half of homes in Cincinnati were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Cincinnati Homeowners
Viewed from a financial planning lens, Cincinnati sits in the moderate remediation-share tier — the equity impact of addressing documented issues is real, and deliberate preparation separates smooth outcomes from disruptive ones for most homeowners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Cincinnati. The estimated $1,580–$3,173 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 21% above the Ohio average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Cincinnati
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Cincinnati have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 79% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Cincinnati
Cincinnati's flood profile — 1659 NFIP claims over the program's multi-decade period and 55% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — reflects a community where flooding has shaped the local risk landscape in sustained ways. That sustained exposure has specific consequences for water quality that don't apply to lower-exposure areas. Treatment facilities handling intake from flood-saturated watersheds face contaminant loads that can exceed normal filtration capacity. Private wells in FEMA-designated zones face surface infiltration risk during every significant event. Distribution systems in areas that flood repeatedly accumulate backflow stress over time. None of these represent constant threats to water quality, but they are activated by the kinds of events that the NFIP record shows have occurred here, repeatedly, over many years.
Cincinnati has a significant flood history with 1,659 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $11,203 per claim. With 55% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,368</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Cincinnati
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Cincinnati's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cincinnati, OH