Is Kent, 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 Akron City Public Water System. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.
3 public water systems serve parts of Kent. The largest, Akron City Public Water System, serves 280,000 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Akron City Public Water System
280,000 people · Surface water · EPA ID OH7700011
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 1.82 ppt | 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: 2.67 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.
Kent 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 Kent city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Which system serves your ZIP code
Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.
| System | ZIP codes in Kent |
|---|---|
| Akron City Public Water System 280,000 people | 44240 |
| Kent City Public Water System 29,662 people | 44243 |
Other water systems serving Kent
- Kent City Public Water System29,662 people · Groundwater · Ohio · lists this cityNo PFAS above limits
- Portage County Water Resources8,606 people · Groundwater · Ohio · reported ZIPs hereNo PFAS above limitsAlso: 3 health-based violations since 2016
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Stow 4 mi Akron City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.67 ppb |
| Akron 9 mi Akron City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.67 ppb |
| Cuyahoga Falls 10 mi Akron City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.67 ppb |
| Green 15 mi Akron City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.67 ppb |
| Canton 23 mi Canton Public Water System | None above limits | 3.47 ppb |
| Brunswick 25 mi Medina Co/Northwest Public Water System | None above limits | 0.6 ppb |
Questions
Is Kent tap water safe to drink?
Akron City Public 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 Kent, OH?
3 public water systems serve parts of Kent. The largest is Akron City Public Water System (280,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Kent tap water have PFAS?
Akron City Public Water System had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Kent homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 65% of Kent 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. Akron City 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.