LET’S MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER!
Columbus Water & Power (CWP) Water Quality Report
Population Served: 1,000,000+
Primary Water Source: Scioto River, Big Walnut Creek, and groundwater from the Scioto River Valley aquifer.
Source: CWP Water Quality Report
DID YOU KNOW water quality reports, also known as “Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs),” are annual documents that all public water systems are required to provide to you via mail and online. These reports are supposed to provide important information about the quality of the drinking water delivered over the previous year.
They can be difficult to read or understand. They are often many pages long and contain complex tables and charts. Culligan Water wants to change this and help you MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER.
This easy-to-read report will provide you with the following:
- Items of interest: Common water issues discussed within your community.
- Potential concerns: Unregulated contaminants that could be a health concern to you or your family.
- Water hardness: The current level of hard water in your area.
The Water Quality Report Legend:
- Health Concern Contaminants that have known health effects that the EPA regulates to protect public health.
- Aesthetic Issue Not necessarily a health risk but can affect your water’s appearance, taste, or odor.
- Unregulated Possible health risk but NO standards set by the EPA. Emerging chemicals and compounds the EPA is gathering data on.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water.
Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant that triggers additional action.
Public Health Goal (PHG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water that doesn’t pose a significant risk to health. PHG’s are NOT regulatory standards, and may not be attainable due to current remediation technologies.
ppm: parts per million (μg/L)
ppm: parts per billion (mg/L)
A Summary Of The CWP Water Quality Report
1) Infrastructure & Water System Overview
Columbus Water & Power provides drinking water to more than one million residents through one of Ohio’s largest municipal water systems.
The system operates three treatment plants:
- Dublin Road Water Plant
- Hap Cremean Water Plant
- Parsons Avenue Water Plant
Every year the utility performs more than 70,000 laboratory analyses to monitor over 30 different water quality parameters while meeting all federal and state drinking water standards.
2) Water Sources and Usage
Columbus receives water from both surface water and groundwater sources.
Primary sources include:
- Scioto River
- Big Walnut Creek
- Groundwater wells in the Scioto River Valley
Because these are open water sources, the city continuously monitors agricultural runoff, stormwater, industrial activity, and other potential contaminants before treatment.
3) Disinfection and Water Treatment
Columbus uses a multi-barrier treatment process designed to produce safe drinking water. Treatment includes:
- Coagulation and sedimentation
- Water softening
- Ozonation
- Granular activated carbon filtration
- UV disinfection
- Chlorination
- Corrosion control
- Fluoride addition
While these levels meet regulatory standards, disinfection byproducts like TTHMs can still raise concerns over long-term exposure, especially since some samples exceeded 80 ppb at individual locations.
4) Minerals and Water Quality Highlights
Several naturally occurring minerals remain in finished drinking water.
- Fluoride: 0.96–0.98 ppm
- Nitrate: Non-detect to 6.3 ppm
- Chlorine: 0.97–1.44 ppm
- Hardness (Average): 98–125 ppm (approximately 6–7 grains per gallon)
Columbus water is considered moderately hard, significantly less mineral-rich than many neighboring Ohio communities.
Items of Interest
Common Tap Water Issues in Columbus
The Columbus area water supply is safe to drink but can still contain trace levels of certain substances that impact taste, odor, or home fixtures. Here are a few common water quality concerns found across the area.
Chlorine
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 4.0
Public Health Goal: N/A
Concerns: Poor Taste and Smell
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Nitrate
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 10
Public Health Goal: 10
Concerns: Cancer, cardiovascular issues, skin lesions
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Fluoride
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 4
Public Health Goal: 4
Concerns: Overexposure can cause dental or skeletal fluorosis
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Potential Concerns
Explore Unregulated Contaminants in Columbus Water
Unregulated contaminants are substances that the EPA monitors but has not yet assigned enforceable limits for. Columbus Water & Power tests for these compounds to track potential risks and ensure long-term water safety. While levels remain below federal thresholds, these byproducts can still affect water taste, overall health, and household performance over time.
HAA5
EPA Max. Contaminant Level (MCL): 60
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Cancer
Removal: Water Softeners, Whole House Water Filters
TTHM
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 80
Public Health Goal: 0
Concerns: Cancer
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Hardness Concerns
Does Columbus Have Hard Water?
Yes. Columbus water is considered moderately hard, ranging from approximately 98 to 125 ppm, depending on which treatment plant serves your neighborhood. This equals roughly 6 to 7 grains per gallon.
This can lead to:
- Scale buildup on faucets, showerheads, and appliances
- Reduced lifespan of water heaters and plumbing
- Soap scum and poor lathering
- Spots on dishes and glassware
A water softener helps reduce mineral buildup and improves overall water performance throughout the home.
Hard Water
Public Health Goal: N/A
Concerns: Dry skin/hair, scale, soap scum, mineral buildup in appliances
Removal: Water Softeners, Whole House Water Filters
Forever Chemicals
PFAS Contaminants in the Columbus Area
Columbus continues monitoring PFAS compounds and participated in EPA’s latest Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). The utility reports that future compliance monitoring will begin under the EPA’s new PFAS regulations, with compliance required beginning in 2029. At the time of this report, Columbus indicates it will install treatment if future sampling shows it is needed to meet the new federal standards.
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