We read 12 results from City of Columbus’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 24,028 people · Water system ID NE3114110 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range 4.7 to 7.5 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 7.5 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal1,875x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 3.31 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal17x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.64 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Radium-226highest measured · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.86 pCi/L | 0.05 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goal17x the health goal |
| Radium-228highest measured · sampled 2023 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 1.78 pCi/L | 0.02 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goal94x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.2 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 9.05 to 12.1 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 2 | 10.6 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 30.2 to 37.4 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 2 | 33.8 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.68 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.42 to 0.6 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.6 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Seleniumhighest measured · sampled 2024 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 3.2 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range ND to 63.6 · sampled 2022 · Wells · 2025 report, page 2 | 63.6 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in City of Columbus’s water between Nov 2024 and May 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium34 ppbFound in 4 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Radium (combined 226 + 228), Radium-226, Radium-228
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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