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 (mg/L)
ppb: parts per billion (μg/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.
According to the most recent water quality report, the city installed new water lines on Dresden Rd., McOwen St., Gray St., Caleb Dr., and Muskingum Ave., with additional water line projects scheduled for Broadview Ave., S. Sebaugh Dr., Lookout Dr., and Venture Lane. The city holds an unconditioned license to operate its water system and reported no violations.
2) Water Sources and Usage
Zanesville’s drinking water comes entirely from groundwater wells.
Because the local aquifer is shallow (less than 20 feet below ground surface) and lacks a protective clay layer, the Ohio EPA considers the source water to have a high susceptibility to contamination. The report notes that this likelihood can be minimized by implementing appropriate protective measures.
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, bacteria, inorganic contaminants, nitrate, and volatile organic compounds 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: 1.06 ppm
- Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): 57.4 ppb
- Chlorine: 1.7 ppm
- Nitrate: 0.78 ppm
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5): 11.8 ppb
- Lead (90th percentile): 0.9 ppb (0 of 30 samples above the 15 ppb action level)
- Copper (90th percentile): 0.229 ppm (0 of 30 samples above the 1.3 ppm action level)
- Barium: 0.0428 ppm
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: 4.0
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: Reverse Osmosis Water Filters, 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’s most recent water quality report does not include PFAS results, so there is no current city figure for these forever chemicals. A free in-home water test can help you understand what’s in your tap water, and reverse osmosis systems are an effective option for reducing PFAS at the tap.
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