Health Violations Found OH 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Ross County Water Company Inc.

EPA ID: OH7101412 · 35,345 people served · 17 ZIP codes

Pulled from the federal compliance ledger, 1 violation at Ross County Water Company Inc. remain without resolution — the utility delivers drinking water to roughly 35,345 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 61
Avg Safety Score
35,345
People Served
17
ZIP Codes Served
9
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0088 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
4
Contaminants Flagged
$163K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Ross County Water Company Inc. Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$57,761
Median Household Income
136,110
Service Area Population
47%
Disadvantaged Population
64th
Poverty Percentile
78th
Energy Burden Percentile
58%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Ross County Water Company Inc. serves a community with a median household income of $57,761 and an estimated 136,110 residents across its service area. Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 47% 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?

Groundwater

Ross County Water Company Inc.'s water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
57th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
13th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Ross 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

47 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 68% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Ross County Water Company Inc. compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

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.

Stage 2 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 2 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. 13 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.012 ppt, PFOS: 0.012 ppt, PFBS: 2.1 ppt, PFHxS: 0.14 ppt, HFPO-DA: 0.7 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

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

Similar-sized systems in Ohio

Stow Public Water System
35,437 people
C 5 violations
Hecla Water Association
34,942 people
C 6 violations
F 5 violations
D 1 violation
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $988
Radon Mitigation $871
PFAS Treatment $324
Water Filtration $53
Total Estimated Cost $2,235

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,235 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Ross County Water Company Inc. (EPA ID: OH7101412) is a community water system in Ohio that serves approximately 35,345 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 17 ZIP codes across 17 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (61/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

2 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 1 remains unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
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
May 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
December 27, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 4 Yes
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 3 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 2 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
45628 0.0088 mg/L No N/A
43164 0.0028 mg/L No N/A
43160 0.002 mg/L No N/A
45601 0.0018 mg/L No N/A
43135 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
43115 0.00058 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 Filter

Free 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Ross County Water Company Inc. (OH7101412) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ross County Water Company Inc. water safe to drink?

Ross County Water Company Inc. has recorded 2 health-based violations 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 Ross County Water Company Inc. serve?

Ross County Water Company Inc. serves approximately 35,345 people across 17 ZIP codes in Ohio.

Where does Ross County Water Company Inc. get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(740)774-4117 or 1-800-837-7525
Address
663 Fairgrounds Rd. PO Box 1690 Chillicothe, Ohio 45601-5690

Contact information from Ross County Water Company Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorinefluoride

Source: Ross County Water Company Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Ross County Water Company Consumer Confidence Report:
The aquifer that supplies drinking water to R.C.W.C. has high susceptibility to contamination, due to the sensitivity of the aquifer in which the well field is located and the existence of several potential contaminant sources within the protection zone.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Standard
Disinfection plus one or more treatment additives — typically corrosion control, pH adjustment, or fluoridation. Standard regime for utilities serving treated municipal water.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Ross County Water Company Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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.

Samples collected
116
Detections
1
Latest sample
9/10/2024
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 3.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 3.1 ppt

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFPeA
Not yet EPA-regulated
3.1 ppt No federal limit set

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Ross County Water Company.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead service line replacement plan from Ross County Water Company Consumer Confidence Report:
Our distribution system has no lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or lead status unknown service lines. To determine this, we used the following sources: historic records, visual inspections or other documentations that indicate the service line material.

Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker

This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

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Ross County Water Company

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.

Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
17,601
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 35,345
Reported to Ohio

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
7
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.9 ppm
Utility adds fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
240 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.

Aesthetic measurements from Ross County Water Company Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Ross County Water Company Inc. safe to drink?
Ross County Water Company Inc. has a C safety grade based on 9 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Ross County Water Company Inc.'s water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Stage 2 DBP Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 4 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Ross County Water Company Inc. serve?
Ross County Water Company Inc. serves approximately 35,345 people with drinking water across 17 ZIP codes.
What is Ross County Water Company Inc.'s water source?
Ross County Water Company Inc. draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Ross County Water Company Inc.'s water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0088 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Ross County Water Company Inc.'s service area?
The Ross County Water Company Inc. service area has a median household income of $57,761. EPA EJScreen data classifies 47% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Ross County Water Company Inc. get its water?
Ross County Water Company Inc.'s water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Ross County Water Company Inc. (EPA ID: OH7101412) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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