Public water system · OH2504412
ActiveColumbus Public Water System
At a glance
Columbus Public Water System (PWSID OH2504412) is an active community water system in Franklin County, Ohio. It reports serving 1,305,946 people through 287,233 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2016.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,305,946
Service connections
287,233
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Columbus Public Water System compare with other water systems in Franklin County?
By EPA's size categories, Columbus Public Water System is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Franklin County has 90 active public water systems, and Columbus Public Water System is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 78 times the county average of 16,670 people per system, and accounts for 87% of the 1,500,285 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Ohio, the 3,854 active systems average 2,767 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Columbus Public Water System is about 195 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Ohio has 1,028 active community water systems, 27% of the state's 3,854 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 102 Ohio systems (2.6%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Columbus Public Water System?
EPA lists Columbus Public Water System as owned by a local government. The OH state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 19 of the 90 active systems in Franklin County (21%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Columbus Public Water System have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2016. The violations listed here began between September 1993 and June 2016. By type: 7 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Nitrate (5 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2015-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-06-12 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherFailure to Consult with State · code 20 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0800 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-03-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2000-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1998-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Nitratecode 1040 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 9 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Columbus Public Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Columbus Public Water System?
Columbus Public Water System (PWSID OH2504412) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the OH state drinking water program.
How many people does Columbus Public Water System serve?
Columbus Public Water System reports serving 1,305,946 people through 287,233 service connections in Franklin County, Ohio.
Where does Columbus Public Water System get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Columbus Public Water System have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2016. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Columbus Public Water System's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 9 violations for this system; 8 are health-based, and the most recent began in June 2016. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the OH state drinking water program.
Where can I find Columbus Public Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Columbus Public Water System must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Franklin County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westerville City Pws | Franklin | 39,000 | Community | Surface water |
| Reynoldsburg City Pws | Franklin | 37,847 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Gahanna City Pws | Franklin | 33,258 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Bexley City Pws | Franklin | 14,250 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Jefferson Water and Sewer District Pws | Franklin | 11,294 | Community | Groundwater |
| Canal Winchester City Pws | Franklin | 9,286 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Columbus Public Water System, PWSID OH2504412, Ohio”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/ohio/columbus-public-water-system-oh2504412 (data as of October 1, 2026).