Is Bowling Green, 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 Bowling Green City Water System. 4 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Bowling Green City Water System supplies Bowling Green (31,578 people).
Water system
Bowling Green City Water System
31,578 people · Surface water · EPA ID OH8700311
| 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 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1
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.
Bowling Green 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 Bowling Green city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Toledo 20 mi City of Toledo | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Findlay 23 mi Findlay City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.4 ppb |
| Lima 50 mi Lima City Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Mansfield 72 mi Mansfield City Water System | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Lorain 76 mi Rural Lorain County Water Authority | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Elyria 80 mi Del-Co Water Company, Inc. | None above limits | 0.82 ppb |
Bowling Green ZIP codes (2)
- 43402
- 43403
Questions
Is Bowling Green tap water safe to drink?
Bowling Green City Water System had 1 health-based violation 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 Bowling Green, OH?
Bowling Green City Water System, which serves 31,578 people.
Does Bowling Green tap water have PFAS?
Bowling Green City Water System had 4 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Bowling Green homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 50% of Bowling Green 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. Bowling Green City 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.