Athens County, Ohio
21 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Covering 21 ZIP codes, Athens County falls in the average tier for tap water safety — violations appear in a meaningful share of areas, and the data suggests quality depends heavily on which specific part of the county a household sits in.
How Athens County Compares
How Athens County Compares
Athens County scores 6 points above the Ohio state average (60/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Athens County, Ohio
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 13.7 (asthma 11.6%, diabetes 12.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,203, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.374% avg pipe failure probability, 37% of ZIPs at high risk
57.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Athens County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 33 violations. Past 5 years: 58 total (58 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,203
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
29,923 housing units in Athens County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Athens County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Athens County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Athens County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Athens County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday Creek Valley Water Public Water System | 5,451 | 25 |
| 2 | NELSONVILLE PWS | 6,656 | 18 |
| 3 | Athens Public Water System | 32,725 | 15 |
| 4 | Athens Company, the Plains S.d. 1 Public Water System | 3,276 | 15 |
| 5 | Chauncey | 1,428 | 15 |
20 total water systems serve Athens County.
All ZIP Codes in Athens County
21 ZIP codes tracked in Athens County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 43728 | Chesterhill | 81 | B | 2 | $126K |
| 2 | 45740 | Jacksonville | 79 | B | 2 | $74K |
| 3 | 45761 | Millfield | 79 | B | 3 | $111K |
| 4 | 45701 | Athens | 78 | B | 1 | $218K |
| 5 | 45710 | Albany | 74 | B | 4 (1 health) | $181K |
| 6 | 45719 | Chauncey | 73 | B | 0 | $74K |
| 7 | 45782 | Trimble | 73 | B | 0 | $52K |
| 8 | 45723 | Coolville | 69 | C | 5 (1 health) | $168K |
| 9 | 45732 | Glouster | 69 | C | 4 (1 health) | $90K |
| 10 | 45711 | Amesville | 68 | C | 6 | $215K |
| 11 | 45716 | Buchtel | 63 | C | 0 | $122K |
| 12 | 45739 | Hockingport | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 13 | 45772 | Reedsville | 63 | C | 0 | $118K |
| 14 | 45776 | Shade | 63 | C | 0 | $179K |
| 15 | 45777 | Sharpsburg | 63 | C | 0 | — |
| 16 | 45778 | Stewart | 63 | C | 0 | $68K |
| 17 | 45780 | The Plains | 63 | C | 0 | $246K |
| 18 | 45717 | Carbondale | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 19 | 45735 | Guysville | 53 | D | 0 | $153K |
| 20 | 45764 | Nelsonville | 53 | D | 11 (8 health) | $113K |
| 21 | 45783 | Tuppers Plains | 53 | D | 0 | $112K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Athens County
Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 57.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Athens County, Ohio
Overview
Athens County in Ohio covers 21 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).
9 of 21 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Ohio water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.