Is Athens, OH tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Athens Public Water System.
Athens Public Water System supplies Athens (32,725 people).
Water system
Athens Public Water System
32,725 people · Groundwater · EPA ID OH0500212
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 0 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2024, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Ohio, 35 of 331 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Ohio results.
Athens homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Athens city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lancaster 39 mi Lancaster City Public Water System | None above limits | 0.8 ppb |
| Zanesville 44 mi Zanesville Public Water System | None above limits | 0.9 ppb |
| Pickerington 53 mi Pickerington City Public Water System | None above limits | 0.6 ppb |
| Newark 54 mi Newark City Public Water System | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Reynoldsburg 57 mi Reynoldsburg City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.1 ppb |
| Grove City 64 mi Columbus Public Water System | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
Athens ZIP codes (1)
- 45701
Questions
Is Athens tap water safe to drink?
Athens Public Water System has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Athens, OH?
Athens Public Water System, which serves 32,725 people.
Does Athens tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Athens Public Water System had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Athens homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 61% of Athens homes as built before 1980 (Ohio: 63%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Athens Public Water System's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.