Is Dayton tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Dayton's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns including PFAS detected. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

64/100

Purity Score

Issues Found

8.5 GPG

Hardness

Detected

PFAS

4 Issues Detected in Dayton

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for Dayton

Moderately Hard Water (8.5 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Dayton

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Dayton

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.3 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Dayton

Fix Your Water — See Recommended Filters

Ohio

454,014,540,245,403 · Mad River and Great Miami River

Dayton Water Quality Report: PFAS Detected

Elevated Risk Updated March 2026 840,000 residents

See Best Filters for Dayton

Purity Score

Recent testing detected PFAS in Dayton tap water. Below you'll find contaminant data, an overall purity score, and matched filter recommendations based on Dayton's specific water profile.

Water Quality Data

PFAS

Detected (2 ppt)

PFAS detected. RO filter recommended.

PFAS in Dayton

Lead

Not detected (3.5 ppb)

Affects taste and skin. Carbon filter removes it.

Learn about chlorine

TDS

Unknown

High TDS (>500 ppm) may affect taste.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS

2 ppt

Lead

3.5 ppb

Nitrate

1 mg/L

Arsenic

0.3 mg/L

Hardness

8.5 gpg

Health Insights

1
With a hardness of 8.5 GPG, Dayton residents may notice white scale on faucets. Hard water increases maintenance costs.
2
PFAS have been identified in Dayton's water at 2 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.
3
Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Dayton's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

64 /100

Moderate

"Good" threshold (70)

Dayton tap water is sourced from Mad River and Great Miami River and treated by City of Dayton Water. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Water hardness is hard at 8.5 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 64/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Dayton's 4 issues.

See Filters

MATCHED TO DAYTON'S WATER DATA

Best Water Filters for Dayton, OH (2026)

Matched to PFAS Detected, Hard Water (8.5 GPG), Moderate Chlorine in Dayton.

PFAS Detected Hard Water (8.5 GPG) Moderate Chlorine

Best Overall #1 for Dayton

Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher

Pitcher Filter

$80-95

Why this fits Dayton

Removes 99%+ of PFAS detected in Dayton's water
Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Dayton's water
NSF/ANSI 42 + NSF/ANSI 53 + NSF/ANSI 401 certified

Pros & Cons +

No installation fill and pour

Removes 365+ contaminants including PFAS

Small capacity 2-3 people

Filter replacements every 4 months

Fix Your Water — Check Price

Best for PFAS

Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO

Tankless Reverse Osmosis

$380-450

Why this fits Dayton

Removes 99%+ of PFAS detected in Dayton's water
Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Dayton's water
NSF/ANSI 58 + NSF 372 certified

Pros & Cons +

No tank saves cabinet space

800 GPD fast flow rate

Higher upfront cost

Filter replacements are proprietary

Check Price on Amazon

Best for Taste

APEC Water Systems ROES-50

Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis

$195-220

Why this fits Dayton

Removes 99%+ of PFAS detected in Dayton's water
Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Dayton's water
NSF/ANSI 58 certified

Pros & Cons +

5-stage filtration removes 99%+ of contaminants

Long-lasting filters (6-12 month replacement)

Requires under-sink installation

Wastes some water during filtration

Check Price on Amazon

Best Value

Waterdrop 10UA Under-Sink Filter

Under-Sink Carbon Filter

$40-60

Why this fits Dayton

Eliminates chlorine taste and odor from Dayton's water
NSF/ANSI 42 certified
Budget-friendly at $40-60

Pros & Cons +

Very affordable

Easy DIY install no plumber

Does not remove PFAS or hardness

Single point of use only

Check Price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap may earn from qualifying purchases. Based on latest Dayton water data.

Full Filter Comparison for Dayton

Know exactly what's in YOUR tap

City data shows averages. Your home may differ.

Test Your Water — $25-30

About Dayton's Water

PFAS Water Contamination: What Dayton Residents Should Know

PFAS have been detected in Dayton's water supply at 2 parts per trillion. Health agencies including the EPA have set limits on certain PFAS compounds in drinking water due to concerns about long-term exposure. While municipal treatment reduces many contaminants, standard water treatment does not fully remove PFAS. Point-of-use reverse osmosis filtration is the most effective home solution confirmed to remove PFAS at the 99%+ level.

Dayton Hard Water: Effects on Your Home

Hard water conditions in Dayton (8.5 GPG) can leave white mineral deposits on fixtures, reduce soap lather, and gradually damage water-using appliances. Water heaters are particularly vulnerable: scale insulates the heating element, raising energy costs and reducing lifespan. A water softener exchanging calcium and magnesium for sodium eliminates scale formation throughout the home. For households concerned about sodium in drinking water, pairing a softener with an RO system at the kitchen tap is the standard approach.

Explore Dayton Water Data

Dayton Water FAQ

Is Dayton OH tap water safe to drink in 2026?

Dayton tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 64/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 2.0 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.

Does Dayton OH use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?

Dayton uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.5 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.

How hard is Dayton OH water and what is the TDS level?

Dayton water hardness is 8.5 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 295 ppm (fair). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.

Has PFAS been found in Dayton OH drinking water?

Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Dayton water at approximately 2.0 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.

What is the best water filter for Dayton?

Based on Dayton's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Dayton: PFAS detected or elevated lead risk. Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology proven to reduce both below detection limits. TDS will also drop significantly.

Nearby Reports

ToledoOhio — 59/100 CincinnatiOhio — 64/100 ClevelandOhio — 77/100 YoungstownOhio — 77/100 CantonOhio — 78/100 ColumbusOhio — 79/100

All Ohio cities

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Data Sources

EPA SDWIS
EWG Tap Water Database
City of Dayton Water CCR
USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

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