Is Lorain, OH tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Rural Lorain County Water Authority. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.

3 public water systems serve parts of Lorain. The largest, Rural Lorain County Water Authority, serves 73,125 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Rural Lorain County Water Authority

73,125 people · Purchased surface water · EPA ID OH4701803

Buys treated water from New London Village Public Water System, Avon Lake City Public Water System, Ashland City Water System.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

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: 0

Full Rural Lorain County Water Authority results

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.

Lorain homes and lead pipes

80%

of homes built before 1980 (Ohio 63%, US 50%)

29%

built before 1950 (Ohio 25%)

43%

of households rent (Ohio 33%)

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 Lorain 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 Lorain
Lorain City Public Water System 64,152 people	44052, 44055
Rural Lorain County Water Authority 73,125 people	44053

Other water systems serving Lorain

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Elyria 6 mi Del-Co Water Company, Inc.	Del-Co Water Company, Inc.	None above limits	0.82 ppb
North Ridgeville 9 mi Rural Lorain County Water Authority	Rural Lorain County Water Authority	None above limits	0 ppb
Avon 9 mi Rural Lorain County Water Authority	Rural Lorain County Water Authority	None above limits	0 ppb
Avon Lake 9 mi Avon Lake City Public Water System	Avon Lake City Public Water System	None above limits	0 ppb
Lakewood 20 mi Lakewood City Public Water System	Lakewood City Public Water System	None above limits	1.2 ppb
Brunswick 23 mi Medina Co/Northwest Public Water System	Medina Co/Northwest Public Water System	None above limits	0.6 ppb

Questions

Is Lorain tap water safe to drink?

Rural Lorain County Water Authority 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 Lorain, OH?

3 public water systems serve parts of Lorain. The largest is Rural Lorain County Water Authority (73,125 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Lorain tap water have PFAS?

Rural Lorain County Water Authority had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Lorain homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 80% of Lorain 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. Rural Lorain County Water Authority'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.