Cleveland, OH: 41 Violations — 79/100 (2026)
41 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
The water systems supplying Cleveland show a track record of above-average compliance with federal standards — consistently among the better performers in OH.
How Cleveland Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Cleveland, OH
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Cleveland score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Cleveland Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 41 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0017 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 88% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,337 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.64 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Cleveland
2 independent water providers serve Cleveland, OH — 2 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 41 ZIP codes in Cleveland, Ohio (population ~734,002), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 1,359,897 people region-wide.
41 of 41 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cleveland: B (79/100)
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
Cleveland water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0017 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 41 ZIP codes
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 42 | 41 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44101 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44102 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44103 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44104 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44105 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44106 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44108 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44109 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44110 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
| 44111 | B | 1 | 0 | Cleveland Public Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Cleveland
- 44101 [B] — 1 violation
- 44102 [B] — 1 violation
- 44103 [B] — 1 violation
- 44104 [B] — 1 violation
- 44105 [B] — 1 violation
- 44106 [B] — 1 violation
- 44108 [B] — 1 violation
- 44109 [B] — 1 violation
- 44110 [B] — 1 violation
- 44111 [B] — 1 violation
- 44112 [B] — 1 violation
- 44113 [B] — 1 violation
- 44114 [B] — 1 violation
- 44115 [B] — 1 violation
- 44118 [B] — 1 violation
- 44119 [B] — 1 violation
- 44120 [B] — 1 violation
- 44121 [B] — 1 violation
- 44124 [B] — 1 violation
- 44125 [C] — 1 violation
- 44126 [B] — 1 violation
- 44127 [B] — 1 violation
- 44128 [B] — 1 violation
- 44129 [B] — 1 violation
- 44130 [B] — 1 violation
- 44134 [B] — 1 violation
- 44135 [B] — 1 violation
- 44143 [B] — 1 violation
- 44144 [B] — 1 violation
- 44181 [B] — 1 violation
- 44188 [B] — 1 violation
- 44189 [B] — 1 violation
- 44190 [B] — 1 violation
- 44191 [B] — 1 violation
- 44192 [B] — 1 violation
- 44193 [B] — 1 violation
- 44194 [B] — 1 violation
- 44195 [B] — 1 violation
- 44197 [B] — 1 violation
- 44198 [B] — 1 violation
- 44199 [B] — 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 Cleveland
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 Cleveland Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Cleveland
With 88% 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
Because the majority of Cleveland's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1934 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Cleveland 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 Cleveland Homeowners
Property equity in Cleveland sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs — a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Cleveland. The estimated $627–$2,188 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 35% below the Ohio average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Cleveland
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.
Routinely in Cleveland, where 88% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Cleveland
Unlike communities where NFIP data shows minimal flood history, Cleveland's record documents 804 claims and 68% of ZIP codes inside FEMA flood zones — a combination that moves flood-related water quality risk from the background into the foreground of any complete local water assessment. Flooding can overwhelm treatment capacity, contaminate wells, and trigger distribution backflow; at this level of exposure, those mechanisms have likely been activated during significant flood events.
Cleveland has a significant flood history with 804 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $13,727 per claim. With 68% 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>$1,337</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cleveland, OH