LET’S MAKE SENSE OF YOUR WATER!
Zanesville Water Quality Report
Population Served: 25,000+
Primary Water Source: Groundwater wells in the Muskingum River Buried Valley Aquifer
Source: City of Zanesville 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 Zanesville Water Quality Report
1) Infrastructure & Water System Overview
The City of Zanesville Water Division supplies drinking water through 12 municipal groundwater wells located within the Muskingum River Buried Valley Aquifer along Lewis Drive.
In recent years, the city completed several water system improvements, including new water line installations, hydrant repairs, and service line upgrades while maintaining full compliance with Ohio EPA drinking water standards.
2) Water Sources and Usage
Zanesville’s drinking water comes entirely from groundwater wells.
Because the local aquifer is relatively shallow and lacks a protective clay layer, the Ohio EPA considers the source water to have a high susceptibility to contamination. The city continuously monitors groundwater quality and implements protective measures to help safeguard the public water supply.
3) Disinfection and Water Treatment
Before reaching homes and businesses, Zanesville’s drinking water is disinfected with chlorine to eliminate harmful microorganisms.
Routine sampling monitors disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, metals, bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants to ensure compliance with all state and federal drinking water regulations.
4) Minerals and Water Quality Highlights
Routine testing detected several naturally occurring minerals and treatment additives. Typical water quality includes:
- Fluoride: 0.85 ppm
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): 36 ppb
- Chlorine: 1.1 ppm
- Nitrate: 1.0 ppm
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): 14 ppb
Items of Interest
Common Tap Water Issues in Zanesville
Although Zanesville’s water meets all federal drinking water standards, some common treatment-related substances remain in finished drinking water.
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
Fluoride
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 4
Public Health Goal: 4
Concerns: High concentrations may contribute to dental fluorosis
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Nitrate
EPA Max. Contaminant Level: 10
Public Health Goal: 10
Concerns: Elevated nitrate levels may pose health risks for infants if they exceed EPA limits.
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
Items of Interest
Common Tap Water Issues in Zanesville
Disinfection byproducts are formed when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter during the water treatment process. Zanesville’s results remain below EPA limits.
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 Zanesville Have Hard Water?
Zanesville’s Consumer Confidence Report does not publish a hardness value, so a specific hardness measurement cannot be reported. Because the city’s drinking water comes from groundwater wells, naturally occurring calcium and magnesium may contribute to mineral buildup in some homes, but the CCR does not quantify hardness.
Hard water may contribute to:
- Scale buildup on fixtures
- Reduced appliance efficiency
- Soap scum
- Spots on dishes and glassware
Forever Chemicals
PFAS Contaminants in Zanesville
Zanesville participated in the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) and reported measurable levels of several PFAS compounds. All reported concentrations were well below current federal drinking water standards.
PFOA
Public Health Goal: N/A
Concerns: Potential Longterm Exposure, Emerging Contaminants
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
PFOS
Public Health Goal: N/A
Concerns: Potential Longterm Exposure, Emerging Contaminants
Removal: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, Whole House Water Filters
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