Cincinnati Public Water System
EPA ID: OH3102612 · 750,200 people served · 59 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Cincinnati Public Water System (OH3102612): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. EPA monitoring data for Cincinnati Public Water System shows an unblemished five-year compliance history - no violations of any kind have been recorded for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 750,200 people, covering every reporting cycle without a single MCL exceedance or monitoring lapse.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Cincinnati Public Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Cincinnati Public Water System serves a community with a median household income of $72,932 and an estimated 1,174,537 residents across its service area. Approximately 73% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 32% 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?
Cincinnati 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.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 62th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 189 detections recorded. 59 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 6 exceed state limits.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Ohio
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
Cincinnati Public Water System (EPA ID: OH3102612) is a community water system in Ohio that serves approximately 750,200 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 59 ZIP codes across 14 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (41/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 46 of 59 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.
Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00206 mg/L | No | N/A |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by OH or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
This system serves 59 ZIP codes:
45002 · 45013 · 45014 · 45030 · 45039 45040 · 45041 · 45051 · 45052 · 45065 45069 · 45140 · 45152 · 45202 · 45203 45204 · 45205 · 45206 · 45207 · 45208 45209 · 45211 · 45212 · 45213 · 45214 45215 · 45216 · 45217 · 45218 · 45219 45220 · 45223 · 45224 · 45225 · 45226 45227 · 45229 · 45230 · 45231 · 45232 45233 · 45236 · 45237 · 45238 · 45239 45240 · 45241 · 45242 · 45243 · 45244 45245 · 45246 · 45247 · 45248 · 45249 45251 · 45252 · 45255 · 45267
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cincinnati Public Water System (OH3102612) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cincinnati Public Water System water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Cincinnati Public Water System in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.
How many people does Cincinnati Public Water System serve?
Cincinnati Public Water System serves approximately 750,200 people across 59 ZIP codes in Ohio.
Where does Cincinnati Public Water System get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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 →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Cincinnati Public Water System, OH: Serves 750K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/oh3102612/
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title = {{Cincinnati Public Water System, OH: Serves 750K People}},
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/oh3102612/}
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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
Cincinnati Public Water System (EPA ID: OH3102612) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.