What was found in Lancaster's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 279 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1820 µg/L — ODRC-SOUTHEASTERN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE · 1,461 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 273.2 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1795.5 µg/L — ODRC-SOUTHEASTERN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE · 1,461 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 278 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1058.5 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2017 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 727.8 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 891.2 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 108.485 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 42.434 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 58.64 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 17.073 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.365 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 11.986 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.77 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 12.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 20 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2024 | 3/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 5.3714 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 14.08 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 13.54 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.22 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.63 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.24 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.08 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2017 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.017 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.325 µg/L — FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.71765 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.985 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS · 15,486 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.00080 mg/L 5.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LANCASTER CITY PWS · 40,400 people · 2025 | 6/6 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Lancaster
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LANCASTER CITY PWS | 40,400 |
| FAIRFIELD COUNTY UTILITIES PWS | 15,486 |
| ODRC-SOUTHEASTERN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE | 1,461 |
| LITTLE WALNUT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY | 1,428 |
| GREENFIELD TWP WATER DISTRICT | 490 |
| BROOKDALE MOBILE HOME PARK | 60 |
Frequently asked questions about Lancaster tap water
Is Lancaster tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 19 contaminants in the water serving Lancaster. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Lancaster?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lancaster, Ohio to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lancaster's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lancaster include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.