City of Columbus Drinking Water Report Released
The recently completed City of Columbus Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report is being delivered to customer mailboxes this week. The report shows that the water delivered to the 1.2 million consumers in central Ohio meets or exceeds Safe Drinking Water Act requirements and all other state and federal standards.
The city's two surface water plants, Hap Cremean and Dublin Road, and a ground water plant on Parsons Avenue, have been under heavy construction the past few years for upgrades. A total of $470 million is being invested in water treatment facilities to comply with updated Environmental Protection Agency regulations and to ensure adequate water supplies for a still-growing central Ohio region. An additional $160 million was previously invested in a fourth drinking water reservoir, the John R. Doutt Upground Reservoir, to supplement water supplies from the Griggs, O'Shaughnessy and Hoover in-stream reservoirs.
“Just as Columbus did over a hundred years ago, we continue to lead the way when it comes to water treatment," said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. "The reinvestments being put into our water plants will provide an even higher quality drinking water product."
The report, based on 2016 testing data, includes details about the city's drinking water quality from its three water plants. To ensure compliance, the Division of Water's Water Quality Assurance Laboratory staff complete thousands of tests each year related to different organic, inorganic and microbiological water quality parameters. The only item in the report that did not meet standards in 2016 was a nitrate advisory for five days in late June/early July affecting certain populations in the Dublin Road Water Plant service area. New facilities being completed at that plant will provide new treatment methods to remove nitrates in the future.
“Having adequate supplies of clean, safe drinking water is important for central Ohio's continued prosperity and is a major advantage Columbus has over other regions in attracting and retaining residents and businesses," said City Councilmember Michael Stinziano, chairperson of the Public Utilities Committee.
The EPA requires that all water utilities distribute reports on source and treated water quality to their customers. The Columbus report can be viewed at columbus.gov/utilities. Customers with any water quality questions may call the Columbus Water Quality Assurance Laboratory at 614-645-7691.
View the full report
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