Cuyahoga Falls, OH: 3 Health Violations — 68/100 (2026)
3 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
While Cuyahoga Falls avoids OH's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Cuyahoga Falls Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Cuyahoga Falls Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 18 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.005 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 76% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.9 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Cuyahoga Falls
Residential water service in Cuyahoga Falls, OH is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 6 systems on file with federal regulators.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (population ~47,715), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 366,847 people region-wide.
3 of 3 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cuyahoga Falls: C (68/100)
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
Cuyahoga Falls water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0050 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): 3 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 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 | 8 | 3 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44221 | C | 6 | 1 | Cuyahoga Falls City Public Water System |
| 44222 | C | 6 | 1 | Cuyahoga Falls City Public Water System |
| 44223 | C | 6 | 1 | Cuyahoga Falls City Public Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Cuyahoga Falls
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.
CDC Health Data for Cuyahoga Falls
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Cuyahoga Falls
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Cuyahoga Falls's Housing Stock?
With 76% 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
Decades of residential development in Cuyahoga Falls took place before the two main regulatory milestones that reduced plumbing-era lead risk: the phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, and the federal ban on lead solder in 1986. With a median build year of 1960, the housing stock here is anchored in that earlier period. The distinction between pre-1970 and 1970-to-1986 construction matters: the oldest homes may have lead pipes in the service line and lead solder in the copper joints, while the 1970-to-1986 tier still carries the solder risk even after lead pipes became less common. Together, these two risk layers affect a majority of the residential properties in the city — a fact the aggregate water quality data doesn't directly reveal.
Over half of homes in Cuyahoga Falls 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.
Cuyahoga Falls: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The household financial perspective in Cuyahoga Falls reflects a moderate cost-to-value ratio — an equity share that is not trivially small but remains within the range where most homeowners can address documented water and safety issues by treating the expense as a real line item in property planning rather than a discretionary one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Cuyahoga Falls. The estimated $1,883–$4,067 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 10% above the Ohio average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Cuyahoga Falls
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.
Although utility-side compliance with federal Lead and Copper requirements remains the system reference, that compliance does not extend down into interior plumbing. With 76% of Cuyahoga Falls stock built before the solder ban and aggregate readings at or beyond the action mark, a household-level sample becomes the practical way to close that information gap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Cuyahoga Falls
Flood history in Cuyahoga Falls spans 16 NFIP claims and 67% flood zone coverage — enough to place it in moderate-exposure territory where flood events are genuinely recurring rather than statistical outliers. That distinction matters for water quality assessment because the connection between flooding and water safety is not uniform across communities. In low-exposure areas, flooding rarely generates the conditions needed to compromise treatment or distribution infrastructure. In high-exposure areas, it can do so repeatedly. Moderate-exposure communities sit in between: flood events occur with enough frequency to make periodic infrastructure stress a reasonable concern, particularly for private well owners and residents in lower-elevation FEMA-designated zones.
Cuyahoga Falls has a moderate flood history with 16 FEMA claims averaging $15,669 per payout. 67% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$2,900</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 Cuyahoga Falls
- 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 Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Cuyahoga Falls's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cuyahoga Falls, OH