Best Tap Water in the US: States and Cities Ranked by EPA Records

1. 1Montgomery and Prince George's (WSSC area), MDWashington Suburban Sanitary Commission
2. 2Oakland, CAEast Bay MUD
3. 3San Diego, CASan Diego, City of

A high score means few or no measured exceedances in the record, not a guarantee about any tap. Cities with sparse monitoring can score higher simply because less was tested, and household plumbing can add lead after the water leaves the system.

1. 1New Jersey105 of 162 city reports65%
2. 2Alaska3 of 5 city reports60%
3. 3Delaware7 of 12 city reports58%

UCMR 5 sampled larger public systems; a state share reflects the cities on record, not every private well or small system. Levels at a tap depend on the local supplier and plumbing.

1. 1South River, NJSouth River W Dept
2. 2Spalding County, GASpalding County Water System
3. 3Lantana, FLLantana Water Treatment Plant

Scores reflect only measured contaminants; a city with sparse monitoring can score higher simply because less was tested. This is not an overall safety ranking.

1. 1Juneau, AKCity and Borough of Juneau
2. 2Jasper, ALJasper Water Works & Sewer Board
3. 3Decatur, ALDecatur, Municipal Ub of

A high score reflects a clean measured record, not proof that every possible contaminant is absent. Monitoring depth varies by system.

1. 1New York City SystemNew York City, NY8,271,000 served
2. 2Los Angeles-City, Dept. of Water & PowerLos Angeles, CA3,875,566 served
3. 3City of HoustonHouston, TX2,970,543 served

Population figures are as reported to EPA and can lag real service-area changes. Size is not a quality signal.

1. 1Emmaus Borough Public WaterEmmaus, PA153.0 ng/L
2. 2City of Grand PrairieGrand Prairie, TX82.0 ng/L
3. 3City of OxfordOxford, MS72.2 ng/L

Figures are monitored public-system results for the stated period, not necessarily current treated water. Utilities may treat before delivery. Each figure is one EPA sample. EPA's 2024 limits are judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet them, so a single sample is not a violation, and it is not an individual health verdict.

1. 1Troy City PWSTroy, NY110.0 µg/L
2. 2Indiana American Water - WabashWabash, IN38.0 µg/L
3. 3Mun Water Auth of AliquippaAliquippa, PA33.5 µg/L

The action level is a treatment trigger, not a health-based limit; there is no known safe level of lead. Results are monitored public-system values for the reporting period, and household plumbing can add lead at the tap regardless of the system result.