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WaterVerge

Water quality report · updated Jul 2026

Is Ashley, OH Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A- — but Copper was detected above EPA limits. Here's what's in the water and how to remove it. What to do ↓

1 contaminant over a legal limit
0.0 ppb lead, 90th percentile · low
6 unresolved violations
1K people served by 1 water system

PWSID OH2100011 · high data confidence · local government utility

Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated July 2026
A 86.2 / 100

#105 of 511Ohio cities
How we grade →

01The verdict: is Ashley water safe?

Ashley's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (86.2/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,198 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

The concern

Copper is over its legal limit

Measured at 180.00 mg/L against the EPA Action Level of 1.3 mg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.

See the measurement ↓
The good news

Lead is well under the limit

90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.

See the trend ↓
Keep watching

1 violation in the last five years

Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.

See the record ↓

Ashley's drinking water received a grade of A- (86.2 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,198 residents using purchased surface water.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 35 violations on record, including 5 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved.

Ashley ranks #105 out of 511 cities in Ohio for water quality, placing it above average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Ashley may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

How the 86.2/100 breaks down Methodology →
ViolationsHistorical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
41.2 / 45A
Lead & CopperLead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
16 / 20B
ContaminantsPFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
17 / 20B
ComplianceMonitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
8 / 10B
Source RiskWater source: Purchased surface water.
4 / 5B

02What's in Ashley's water

Every contaminant flagged in Ashley, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.

2 detections · sorted by % of legal limit
Over the limit Elevated — watch Within limits
0 50% LEGAL LIMIT 150%

Over Limit — EPA Action Level: 1.3 mg/L

Exceeds the EPA action level. Copper leaches from household plumbing — flush taps for 30 seconds before drinking, and consider a certified filter.
Exceeds Limit What to do →
2 contaminants tested under EPA SDWIS, LCR and UCMR programs · 2 detected · not yet tested for PFAS under UCMR 5

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Copper (90th percentile) 180.00 1.3 mg/L Inorganic Over Limit
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

03Ashley's ten-year track record

Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 35 violations on record, including 5 health-based violations. 6 remain unresolved.

7 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.

3 monitoring & paperwork 3 still unresolved
UpdateWater quality data updatedLatest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Ashley's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (86.2/100).
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.Open
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.Open
Violation1 drinking water violation recordedContaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.Open
DisasterHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3250). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
Lead, 90th percentileppb · lower is better
05001000150020002500EPA action level · 15 ppb1993 — 7.7 ppb1994 — 5 ppb1995 — 0 ppb1996 — 0 ppb1997 — 0 ppb1998 — 0 ppb2001 — 0 ppb2002 — 5 ppb2004 — 0 ppb2005 — 2000 ppb2007 — 0 ppb2010 — 2 ppb2011 — 2.2 ppb2014 — 0 ppb2017 — 2 ppb2018 — 0 ppb2021 — 0 ppb2022 — 0 ppb2023 — 0 ppb2024 — 0 ppb2025 — 0 ppb7.7019931998200720182025

Down 7.7 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

Copper, 90th percentilemg/L

180mg/L(2005)

One sampling round on record — 13846% of the 1.3mg/L EPA action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

04Where Ashley's water comes from

Ashley's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Source

Purchased Surface Water

Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.

Treatment

Wholesale supplier

Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.

Distribution

1 system

1 water system, operated under local government ownership.

Delivery

1,198 people

Residents served across Ashley's service area.

Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,198 people through 1 water system.

System namePWSIDPopulationSource
ASHLEY VILLAGE PWS OH2100011 1,198 Purchased Surface Water

Water bodies near Ashley

Whetstone Creek At Mt Gilead · river Olentangy River Near Delaware · river Alum Creek Near Kilbourne · river

As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Ashley's drinking water supply.

05Pressure on Ashley's watershed

Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.

Industrial discharge

Present — monitored

1 facility within 10 miles reported 0 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.

CARDINGTON YUTAKA TECHNOLOGIES INC. 0 lb · 6.7 mi

Flood & storm history

Occasional

1 federal disaster declaration on record for Delaware County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.

HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION Sep 2005 · DR-3250

06How Ashley compares

Scores for nearby Ohio cities on one line, with the average marked.

Ashley (this city)
86.2 · A-
Cleveland
85.5 · A-
Toledo
78 · B
Kent
38.2 · F
Cincinnati
36.8 · F
Columbus
35.5 · F

dashed line = Ohio average (58/100)

Ashley scores 86.2/100above the Ohio average of 58/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Ohio rankings →

Delaware water quality rankings
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.

07What to do at home

Steps matched to what testing actually found in Ashley's water — not generic advice.

Because of copper

Filter drinking & cooking water

NSF-certified water filter. Copper exceeds the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L

Compare tested filters →
Know your report

Read your utility's annual report

Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.

How to read a CCR →
Stay informed

Watch for Ashley alerts

We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.

All water alerts →

Frequently asked questions

Is Ashley, OH tap water safe to drink?

Ashley's water quality earned a grade of A- (86.2/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #105 out of 511 cities tested in Ohio.

What contaminants are in Ashley's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 35 violations are on record.

How is Ashley's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Ashley?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Ashley's water come from?

Ashley's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,198 residents.

What health violations has Ashley's water system had?

Ashley has 5 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2021. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 6 violations remain unresolved.

How does Ashley's water compare to other cities?

Ashley ranks #105 out of 511 cities in Ohio (better than 79% of state cities) and #4839 out of 15382 cities nationally (69th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Ashley's small water system affect quality?

Ashley's system serves approximately 1,198 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 35 violations on record.

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About Ashley, OH: Median household income $58,462 · median home value $140,485 · median age 36.6 · 48.3% homeowners · 9.1% college educated. Service area: 1 ZIP code across Delaware.
Show ZIP codes 43003
Sources: EPA SDWIS & ECHO · UCMR 3–5 · Lead & Copper Rule samples · EPA TRI · U.S. Drought Monitor · FEMA declarations. Data last updated Jul 2026. Analysis by the WaterVerge Editorial Team · methodology.