Is Lancaster, 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 Lancaster City Public Water System.
Lancaster City Public Water System supplies Lancaster (40,400 people).
Water system
Lancaster City Public Water System
40,400 people · Groundwater · EPA ID OH2301012
| 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: 0.8 ppb at the 90th percentile (Jun 2025, 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.
Lancaster 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 Lancaster city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Pickerington 14 mi Pickerington City Public Water System | None above limits | 0.6 ppb |
| Reynoldsburg 19 mi Reynoldsburg City Public Water System | None above limits | 2.1 ppb |
| Newark 26 mi Newark City Public Water System | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Gahanna 26 mi Gahanna City Public Water System | None above limits | 0.5 ppb |
| Grove City 26 mi Columbus Public Water System | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
| Columbus 27 mi Columbus Public Water System | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
Lancaster ZIP codes (1)
- 43130
Questions
Is Lancaster tap water safe to drink?
Lancaster City 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 Lancaster, OH?
Lancaster City Public Water System, which serves 40,400 people.
Does Lancaster tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Lancaster City 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 Lancaster homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 71% of Lancaster 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. Lancaster 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.