Cleveland Public Water System
EPA ID: OH1801212 · 1,308,955 people served · 78 ZIP codes
Cleveland Public Water System carries 6 open EPA violations that remain unresolved in the federal system — approximately 1,308,955 people fall within its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 1 (2023) to 6 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Cleveland Public Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Cleveland Public Water System serves a community with a median household income of $75,621 and an estimated 1,525,028 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 44% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Cleveland Public Water System's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Cuyahoga County, Ohio rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Cleveland Public Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 15 detections recorded. 3 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
CLEVELAND PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM (EPA ID: OH1801212) is a community water system in Ohio that serves approximately 1,308,955 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 78 ZIP codes across 35 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (71/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| December 23, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 3, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44233 | 0.0019 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44101 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44102 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44103 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44104 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44105 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44106 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44108 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44109 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44110 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44111 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44112 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44113 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44114 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44115 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44118 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44119 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44120 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44121 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 44124 | 0.00173 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 64 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 14 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 78 ZIP codes:
44017 · 44022 · 44026 · 44040 · 44056 44067 · 44070 · 44072 · 44087 · 44092 44101 · 44102 · 44103 · 44104 · 44105 44106 · 44107 · 44108 · 44109 · 44110 44111 · 44112 · 44113 · 44114 · 44115 44116 · 44117 · 44118 · 44119 · 44120 44121 · 44122 · 44123 · 44124 · 44125 44126 · 44127 · 44128 · 44129 · 44130 44131 · 44132 · 44133 · 44134 · 44135 44136 · 44137 · 44138 · 44139 · 44140 44141 · 44142 · 44143 · 44144 · 44145 44146 · 44147 · 44149 · 44181 · 44188 44189 · 44190 · 44191 · 44192 · 44193 44194 · 44195 · 44197 · 44198 · 44199 44202 · 44212 · 44233 · 44236 · 44256 44264 · 44280 · 44286
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cleveland Public Water System (OH1801212) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cleveland Public Water System water safe to drink?
Cleveland Public Water System has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Cleveland Public Water System serve?
Cleveland Public Water System serves approximately 1,308,955 people across 78 ZIP codes in Ohio.
Where does Cleveland Public Water System get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #34 / 50 Most Disadvantaged Populations Served (Ohio)
- #12 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Ohio)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Cleveland Public Water System (EPA ID: OH1801212) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.