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WaterVerge

Water quality report · updated Jul 2026

Is Liberty Center, 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
1.2 ppb lead, 90th percentile · low
1 unresolved violation
1K people served by 1 water system

PWSID OH3500603 · moderate data confidence · local government utility

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

#106 of 511Ohio cities
How we grade →

01The verdict: is Liberty Center water safe?

Liberty Center's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (86.2/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,180 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

The concern

Copper is over its legal limit

Measured at 72.00 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 1.2 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.

See the trend ↓
Stay informed

Check back after the next refresh

EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.

Get alerts ↓

Liberty Center'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 1,180 residents using purchased surface water.

Lead levels were measured at 1.2 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 38 violations on record, including 35 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

Liberty Center ranks #106 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, Liberty Center 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.
39.2 / 45B
Lead & CopperLead at 1.2 ppb (90th percentile).
16 / 20B
ContaminantsPFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
17 / 20B
ComplianceMonitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
10 / 10A
Source RiskWater source: Purchased surface water.
4 / 5B

02What's in Liberty Center's water

Every contaminant flagged in Liberty Center, 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) 1.2 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Copper (90th percentile) 72.00 1.3 mg/L Inorganic Over Limit
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

03Liberty Center'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 38 violations on record, including 35 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

9 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.

2 monitoring & paperwork
UpdateWater quality data updatedLatest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Liberty Center's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (86.2/100).
Violation2 drinking water violations recordedContaminants: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).Resolved
Violation1 drinking water violation recorded1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.Resolved
Violation1 drinking water violation recorded1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.Resolved
DisasterHURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATIONFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3250). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
DisasterSEVERE STORMS & FLOODINGFederal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-653). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.
Lead, 90th percentileppb · lower is better
05101520EPA action level · 15 ppb1993 — 8.8 ppb1994 — 5 ppb1995 — 0 ppb1996 — 0 ppb2001 — 0 ppb2002 — 5 ppb2004 — 0 ppb2007 — 0 ppb2010 — 0 ppb2013 — 0 ppb2016 — 0 ppb2018 — 0 ppb2019 — 0 ppb2020 — 0 ppb2021 — 2 ppb2022 — 0 ppb2023 — 2 ppb2024 — 0.60 ppb2025 — 1.2 ppb8.81.2199320012010201920232025

Down 7.6 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 1.2 ppb (2025) — 8% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

Copper, 90th percentilemg/L

72mg/L(2004)

One sampling round on record — 5538% of the 1.3mg/L EPA action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).

04Where Liberty Center's water comes from

Liberty Center'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

1,180 people

Residents served across Liberty Center'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 1,180 people through 1 water system.

System namePWSIDPopulationSource
LIBERTY CENTER VILLAGE OH3500603 1,180 Purchased Surface Water

Water bodies near Liberty Center

South Turkeyfoot Creek Near Shunk · river Ai Creek Near Swanton · river

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

05Pressure on Liberty Center'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

5 facilities within 10 miles reported 292 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.

NORTH STAR BLUESCOPE STEEL LLC — zinc compounds 165 lb · 8.9 mi
CAMPBELL SOUP SUPPLY CO LLC — chlorine 117 lb · 6.3 mi
WORTHINGTON STEEL — manganese 5 lb · 8.6 mi
+ 2 more facilities

Flood & storm history

Occasional

2 federal disaster declarations on record for Henry County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.

HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION Sep 2005 · DR-3250
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING Mar 1982 · DR-653

06How Liberty Center compares

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

Liberty Center (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)

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

Henry 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 Liberty Center's water — not generic advice.

Because of copper

Filter drinking & cooking water

Basic carbon filter for extra protection. 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 Liberty Center 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 Liberty Center, OH tap water safe to drink?

Liberty Center'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 #106 out of 511 cities tested in Ohio.

What contaminants are in Liberty Center's water?

Lead was measured at 1.2 ppb (90th percentile). 38 violations are on record.

How is Liberty Center'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 Liberty Center?

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

Where does Liberty Center's water come from?

Liberty Center's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,180 residents.

What health violations has Liberty Center's water system had?

Liberty Center has 35 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2020. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.

How does Liberty Center's water compare to other cities?

Liberty Center ranks #106 out of 511 cities in Ohio (better than 79% of state cities) and #4840 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 Liberty Center's small water system affect quality?

Liberty Center's system serves approximately 1,180 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 38 violations on record.

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About Liberty Center, OH: Liberty Center is a village in Henry County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,108 at the 2020 census. Median household income $64,167 · median home value $134,446 · median age 34.1 · 66.2% homeowners · 25.3% college educated. Wikipedia → Service area: 1 ZIP code across Henry.
Show ZIP codes 43532
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.