Is Cleveland Tap Water Safe to Drink?
Cleveland's tap water met every federal limit in its 2025 report. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued the system an unconditioned licence to operate for 2025. The highest routine reading was Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 49% of its limit — 39.4 ppb against a 80 ppb limit.
The number that deserves the most attention sits in the lead data. Of 52 samples taken from June to September 2024, one measured 1,997 ppb against a 15 ppb action level — 133 times the limit — while the 90th percentile across all samples was 3.15 ppb. A citywide statistic and a single tap can be very different numbers, and lead is a property-level problem.
Key figures — 2025 report
- Worst single lead sample
- 1,997 ppb — 1 of 52 samples (action level: 15 ppb)
- Sites above the lead action level
- 1 of 52 samples
- Highest routine reading: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)
- 39.4 ppb against a 80 ppb limit (49%)
- Contaminants tested
- 9 — none above a federal maximum
Serving 1.4 million people, PWSID OH1801212.
Lead pathway
Where lead enters Cleveland's water
Lead is measured where it matters: at customers' taps. Cleveland's most recent lead and copper compliance round ran from June to September 2024, with 52 samples taken at homes meeting Tier 1 requirements. The 90th percentile was 3.15 ppb against a 15 ppb federal action level, and one sample exceeded that level.
The percentile is not the whole story. The worst single sample in that round measured 1,997 ppb — 133 times the action level. A 90th percentile describes the distribution across the sampling pool; it says nothing about the one house with a lead service line or leaded solder. If that house is yours, the outlier is your number, not the percentile.
Note the dates: this lead data is from 2024, while the report covers 2025. Cleveland is on a reduced monitoring schedule — results have been below the federal lead action level for 25 years, which qualifies the system for a reduced monitoring schedule — so lead results are routinely a year or more older than the report they appear in.
The utility's own report attributes lead at the tap to service lines and household plumbing — corrosion of the pipes between the main under the street and the faucet — not to Lake Erie or the treatment plants.
What the utility does about it: corrosion control
Orthophosphate is added during treatment and forms a protective coating on the inside of pipes and plumbing, reducing the likelihood of lead dissolving into the water. Corrosion is further controlled by keeping the pH above 7. Orthophosphate in the system measured between 0.66 and 2.07 mg/L (average 1.25), against a target of >0.8 mg/L. pH leaving the plants ranged from 7.03 to 7.57 (average 7.24).
Is my service line lead?
How to find out whether your service line is lead
- Plumbing and fixtures: Plumbing or fixtures installed before 1986 could contain lead.
- Faucets: Faucets manufactured between 1986 and 2014 could also contain lead.
Cleveland maintains a service line inventory (interactive map with customer self-report) at www.clevelandwater.com/line. The magnet and penny test determines what material the customer-side service line is made from; results can be recorded on the utility's map.
Cleveland does not offer free residential lead testing. The Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters maintains a list of certified drinking water laboratories at epa.ohio.gov. For lead questions, the utility lists 216.664.2882 and leadlookup@clevelandwater.com.
Replacement program
Cleveland names a Lead Service Line Replacement Program in its report but publishes no cost, eligibility or application detail there. For current terms, contact the utility at 216.664.2882. Lead service lines are also replaced during water main repairs and replacement projects. Cleveland Water built and maintains a Lead Service Line Research Facility to help develop less costly ways to identify where lead service lines exist.
What the utility recommends at home
- Clean. Clean faucet aerators at least twice a year, and more often after plumbing work. Solder particles can accumulate there and release lead.
- Flush. Flush cold water lines when water has not been used for six or more hours. Run water until the temperature changes, then a further 30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on service line length.
- Consume cold. Always use cold water for cooking, drinking and preparing baby formula. Hot water corrodes pipes faster and is more likely to contain lead.
Full contaminant results
Every detected contaminant in Cleveland's 2025 report
Nine contaminants appear in the detected-results tables. Eight were detected at one or more treatment plants; none exceeded a federal maximum contaminant level. Behind these tables sits a much larger program: nearly 200,000 tests a year covering more than 200 contaminants, including more than 350 distribution samples a month.
Results by treatment plant
Cleveland reports these analytes separately for each of its four plants. We do not average across plants — the differences are real.
| Contaminant | Baldwin | Crown | Morgan | Nottingham | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 0.22 NTU (0.02 – 0.22) | 0.08 NTU (0.02 – 0.08) | 0.09 NTU (0.03 – 0.09) | 0.08 NTU (0.02 – 0.08) | < 1 NTU at any time; 0.3 NTU in 95% of monthly samples |
| Fluoride | 1.02 ppm (0.76 – 1.26) | 0.98 ppm (0.85 – 1.14) | 0.96 ppm (0.78 – 1.13) | 0.96 ppm (0.78 – 1.13) | 4 ppm (highest plant: 26%) |
| Nitrate (as Nitrogen) | 0.45 ppm (ND–0.45) | 0.39 ppm (ND–0.39) | 0.38 ppm (ND–0.38) | 0.48 ppm (ND–0.48) | 10 ppm (highest plant: 5%) |
| Cyanide | ND | ND | 40 µg/L (ND–40) | ND | 200 µg/L (highest plant: 20%) |
| Total Organic Carbon | 1.66 ratio (1.48 – 1.86) | 1.38 ratio (1.11 – 1.7) | 1.56 ratio (1.37 – 1.73) | 1.37 ratio (1.2 – 1.53) | Treatment technique |
| Total Chlorine | 1.17 ppm (1.06 – 1.29) | 1.09 ppm (0.88 – 1.22) | 1.13 ppm (0.92 – 1.36) | 1.2 ppm (1.01 – 1.4) | 4 ppm (highest plant: 30%) |
Cyanide was detected only at the Garrett A. Morgan Water Treatment Plant — 40 µg/L, 20% of the limit — and not detected at the other three plants. A system-wide average would erase exactly this kind of difference.
System-wide results
| Contaminant | Your water | Limit | % of limit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 39.4 ppb | 80 ppb | 49% | 9.8 – 65.4 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 14.7 ppb | 60 ppb | 25% | 6 – 14.7 |
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM): Cleveland Water has a combined distribution system, so this value is identical for each treatment plant. Compliance calculation includes 9 months of 2024 data.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): Combined distribution system. Compliance calculation includes 9 months of 2024 data.
PFAS
Under the EPA's fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, Cleveland tested all four treatment plants for 29 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and 1 lithium in 2024–2025. Of the 646 tests done, none of the contaminants tested for were detected. Cleveland Water will continue to monitor PFAS and has developed plans for PFAS treatment should issues arise in the future.
Tested for and not found
Cleveland Water monitors more than 200 regulated and unregulated contaminants. The significant majority are not detected.
See the full monitored-but-not-detected breakdown
- Volatile organics (41 analytes): none detected. Includes Benzene, Carbon tetrachloride, Trichloroethene, Tetrachloroethene, Vinyl chloride, Toluene and Xylenes.
- Synthetic organics (3 analytes): none detected. Includes Alachlor, Atrazine and Simazine.
- Inorganics nd: Includes Aluminium, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium and Chromium.
Average values for what was detected
| Analyte | Average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) | 0.00315 ppm | 0.015 ppm |
| Copper (90th percentile) | 0.06 ppm | 1.3 ppm |
| Fluoride | 0.99 ppm | 4 ppm |
| Nitrate | 0.43 ppm | 10 ppm |
| Sodium | 10 ppm | No federal limit |
| Chloride | 18 ppm | 250 ppm |
| Total Dissolved Solids | 180 ppm | 500 ppm |
| Calcium | 16 ppm | No federal limit |
| Magnesium | 7.6 ppm | No federal limit |
| Alkalinity | 82 ppm | No federal limit |
| Silica | 1.8 ppm | No federal limit |
| Turbidity | 0.12 NTU | 0.3 NTU |
| Total Coliform | 0 % positive — 0 of 4,261 samples were positive in 2025 | 5 % positive |
| Alpha emitters | 1.05 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L |
| Radium 226/228 | 0.801 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L |
Lake Erie raw sulfate is about 24 ppm; treated sulfate ranges from 28 to 40 ppm, usually 35 to 40 ppm.
Water hardness
6.8 grains per gallon · range 105–130 mg/L (USGS scale)
How hard is Cleveland's water?
Cleveland's water measures about 117 mg/L as calcium carbonate — roughly [6.8 grains per gallon](/tools/hardness-calculator). On the USGS scale that is moderately hard water. Reported values ranged from 105 to 130 mg/L.
Source: Cleveland Water 2025 Water Quality Report, Average Chemical Values table. Reported directly in the CCR as an average chemical value, unlike Chicago where hardness comes from a separate quarterly analysis.
At 117 mg/L, a water softener is not indicated — this is a comfort question, not a health one, and moderately hard water sits below the level where scale becomes a practical nuisance for most households.
Where your water comes from
Lake Erie to your tap
Cleveland draws its drinking water from Lake Erie's Central Basin. Four intakes spread over 15 miles, 3 to 5 miles offshore where the water is cleaner and less affected by tributary runoff and coastal activity. Intake tunnels run 50 feet below the lake bed.
The system serves 80 communities in total — 70 retail, 7 wholesale and 3 on emergency backup — across four pressure zones set by elevation relative to Lake Erie, which also determines customer water rates.
| Treatment plant | In operation since | Average daily output |
|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Water Treatment Plant | 1925 | 59.5 million gallons |
| Crown Water Treatment Plant | 1958 | 40 million gallons |
| Garrett A. Morgan Water Treatment Plant | 1918 | 60 million gallons |
| Nottingham Water Treatment Plant | 1951 | 50 million gallons |
More than 11 million people rely on Lake Erie as their source of drinking water. Cleveland Water's 1.4 million customers are part of that total.
Source water assessment
The Ohio EPA Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection Report, last updated in 2021, is candid about the source: All surface waters are considered susceptible to contamination because they are accessible and can be contaminated by chemicals and pathogens from an upstream spill. Because Cleveland Water's intakes sit a considerable distance offshore, potential contamination from the Cuyahoga River and nearshore sources is minimised to a great degree. Ohio EPA therefore rates Lake Erie as having low susceptibility to contamination at these intake locations.
No single treatment technique addresses all potential contaminants, so Cleveland Water uses a multiple barrier approach, of which source water protection is one barrier.
Cleveland Water maintains emergency-only interconnections with other area systems. No emergency water requests were received in 2025.
The full assessment is available from the utility at 216.664.2444 x 75838.
How the water is treated
Treatment follows federal and state requirements plus the higher industry standards of the Partnership for Safe Water.
The treatment process, step by step (ten stages)
- Crib. Located 3 to 5 miles offshore in Lake Erie, protecting the top of the pipe into which lake water flows.
- Intake tunnel. 50 feet below the bed of Lake Erie, bringing water to the treatment plant.
- Screens. Filter out mussel shells, fish and other large debris.
- Raw water pumps. Move water from Lake Erie through the treatment process.
- Rapid mix. Quickly mixes treatment chemicals that help microscopic particles clump together.
- Flocculation. Three stages of decreasing speed allow material to clump together as floc.
- Sedimentation. Heavy clumps of floc settle to the bottom of large basins and are removed.
- Filtration. Gravity pulls water through two feet of anthracite over one foot of sand.
- Disinfection and finishing. Pathogen-killing, dental health and corrosion control agents are added, then water moves slowly through the finished water reservoir to give chlorine adequate contact time.
- Testing and pumping. Finished water is tested before being pumped into the distribution system.
Treatment chemicals and why they are used
| Chemical | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Potassium permanganate | Conditions the water so that coagulation and filtration remove particulates more effectively. |
| Powdered activated carbon (PAC) | Absorbs organic material that can cause unpleasant tastes and odours. |
| Aluminium sulfate (alum) | Coagulant that helps small particles stick together for easier removal. |
| Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine) | Disinfection. Must remain in contact with the water for a prescribed time to kill bacteria, viruses and other microbes. |
| Hydrofluosilicic acid (fluoride) | Promotes dental health. |
| Phosphoric acid (orthophosphate) | Inhibits lead corrosion by forming a protective coating inside pipes and plumbing. |
| Sodium hydroxide | Raises pH as needed to reduce corrosion of metals such as lead and ensure other chemicals work effectively. |
Beyond the legal minimum: Partnership for Safe Water
A voluntary effort between six drinking water organisations and more than 250 water utilities to maintain higher water quality standards than those required by law. Annual performance and operational assessments of each plant are peer-reviewed by utility peers and optimisation experts.
| Plant | Director's Award since | Excellence Award since |
|---|---|---|
| Crown Water Treatment Plant | 2004 | 2014 |
| Garrett A. Morgan Water Treatment Plant | 2004 | — |
| Baldwin Water Treatment Plant | 2006 | — |
| Nottingham Water Treatment Plant | 1997 | — |
Cross-connection control
Customers should check plumbing for cross-connections and install a backflow prevention device if required. Details: clevelandwater.com/backflow.
What you can do
Should you filter Cleveland tap water?
Nothing in Cleveland's 2025 results calls for a filter on health grounds: the highest routine reading, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), sits at 49% of its federal limit, though the top of its detection range reached 65.4 ppb — 82% of the limit. No contaminant crossed half of its limit, and hardness at 117 mg/L is below the level where a softener earns its keep.
What the data does support is testing, not buying — because lead is the one number here that varies wildly by address. One 2024 sample measured 1,997 ppb while the 90th percentile stayed at 3.15 ppb. Cleveland does not offer free residential testing; The Ohio EPA Division of Drinking and Ground Waters maintains a list of certified drinking water laboratories at epa.ohio.gov. — or start with our water test kit guide.
What this data does not tell you
Every number on this page describes water at the plants, in the mains, or as a system-wide statistic. None of it was measured in your building — and Cleveland's own 2024 round shows how much that matters: 52 samples, one at 1,997 ppb. If you want to know about your water rather than Cleveland's, testing at your own tap is the only source.
Your pipes tell a different story
The data above shows what leaves the treatment plant—not what comes out of your faucet. Old pipes, lead solder, and building plumbing can add contaminants the city never tests for. Know exactly what's in your Cleveland tap water.
Home test kits detect lead, bacteria, pesticides, and 100+ other contaminants. Results in 5-10 business days from certified labs.
If testing does point at a specific contaminant, our filter guides cover certifications and what to verify before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Sources and methodology
Primary sources
- *Cleveland Water 2025 Water Quality Report* (Consumer Confidence Report), Cleveland Water, PWSID OH1801212 — clevelandwater.com/2025WQR
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), PWSID OH1801212
How we compiled this
We do not test water. Every figure on this page is transcribed from documents published by Cleveland Water or the EPA, and each is attributed to the document it came from.
Lead and copper values are 90th-percentile compliance statistics from the 2024 sampling round — older than the 2025 report because the system is on a reduced monitoring schedule. We state sample years next to values rather than presenting everything as current.
Not required to be monitored in 2025: radiological parameters.
Author: TapWater.org Editorial Team — https://www.tapwater.org/about
Data current as of: the 2025 Consumer Confidence Report
This page presents publicly available regulatory data. It is not medical advice. Water quality varies by building and over time. For official information, contact Cleveland Water at 216.664.2639.
Last updated: 2026-09-11