WaterVerge

Is Ottoville, OH Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 5 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

976 residents served 1 water system PWSID: OH6900812
Overall Score
86.1 / 100
Violations
5 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#111 of 511 in Ohio Top 32% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
86.1/100
waterverge.com
A- 86.1/100

Ottoville, OH — Water Quality Report

Ottoville's drinking water received a grade of A- (86.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 976 residents using groundwater.

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 6 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Ottoville's water

Ottoville ranks #111 out of 511 cities in Ohio for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Ottoville relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Ottoville may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
86.1 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.1/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
0/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Ottoville, OH water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Ottoville's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (86.1/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 976 residents using groundwater (wells).

5
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
1 event
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Ottoville

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Ottoville's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (86.1/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Disaster
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3250). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Ottoville's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Ottoville's water system has 6 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved.

OtherMR
Most recent violations:
Nov 2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jul 2006 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jul 2005 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jul 2001 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Oct 1996 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Putnam County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies. Local water sources include Auglaize River Near Fort Jennings, Ottawa River Near Kalida, Blanchard River Near Dupont.

HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA DR-3250

Where does Ottoville's water come from?

Ottoville's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 976 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate. Nearby water bodies include Auglaize River Near Fort Jennings (river), Ottawa River Near Kalida (river), Blanchard River Near Dupont (river).

What Ottoville residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Ottoville's water.

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

6
Total violations
0
Health-based
5
Active / unresolved
Nov 2018
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

6 Total
5 Active
0 Health-based
1 Resolved
Violations by category
Consumer Confidence Rule
4
Total Coliform Rule
1
Nov 2018 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2006 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2005 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2001 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Oct 1996 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 1996
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Ottoville

Industrial polluters nearby

Reported releases to surface water by facilities near Ottoville, ranked by pounds discharged annually.

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
BUNGE N.A. (EAST) L.L.C.
Food · BUNGE NORTH AMERICA INC
DELPHOS, OH45833
6.5 mi
UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING CO INC DELPHOS DIV
Machinery · UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING CO INC
DELPHOS, OH45833
6.5 mi
AIRGAS SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - DELPHOS OH
Chemical Wholesalers · AIRGAS INC
DELPHOS, OH45833
6.8 mi
KALIDA MANUFACTURING INC
Transportation Equipment · KTH PARTS INDUSTRIES INC
KALIDA, OH45853
8.1 mi
UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING CO INC
Machinery · UNVERFERTH MANUFACTURING CO INC
KALIDA, OH45853
7.4 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

1
Declared disasters
Sep 2005
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Putnam County has experienced 1 federally declared disaster since 2005. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3250

Full contaminants report

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

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 0.0 ppb from 1993 (0.0 ppb) to 2025 (0.0 ppb).
Contaminant Rankings

See how Ottoville compares by contaminant

Explore where Ottoville ranks among all Ohio cities for specific contaminants.

Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
976
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Ottoville's water comes from

Groundwater

Ottoville's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 976 people through 1 water system.

Local Hydrology

Water bodies near Ottoville

Ottoville is located near 3 notable water bodies. These water bodies contribute to the regional watershed and may indirectly affect groundwater quality.

Auglaize River Near Fort Jennings
river
Ottawa River Near Kalida
river
Blanchard River Near Dupont
river
Infrastructure

Water systems serving Ottoville

System Name PWSID Population Source
OTTOVILLE VILLAGE OH6900812 976 GW
Regional Comparison

How Ottoville compares

Full Ohio rankings →

Ottoville's score of 86.1/100 is above the average of 58/100 among major Ohio cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Ottoville (this city)
86.1
Columbus
35.5
Cleveland
85.5
Cincinnati
36.8
Toledo
78
Kent
38.2
Ohio avg
58
City Profile

About Ottoville, OH

Wikipedia →

Ottoville is a village in Monterey Township, Putnam County, Ohio, United States. The population was 966 at the 2020 census.

Economic Profile
$69,286
Median Income
$220,502
Median Home Value
$912/mo
Median Rent
3.4%
Unemployment
Community
42.6
Median Age
398
People / sq mi
30.1%
College Educated
86.9%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Ottoville, OH tap water safe to drink?

Ottoville's water quality earned a grade of A- (86.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #111 out of 511 cities tested in Ohio.

What contaminants are in Ottoville's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 6 violations are on record.

How is Ottoville'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 Ottoville?

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

Where does Ottoville's water come from?

Ottoville's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 976 residents.

Is Ottoville's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Ottoville uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 6 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Ottoville's water compare to other cities?

Ottoville ranks #111 out of 511 cities in Ohio (better than 78% of state cities) and #4941 out of 15744 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 Ottoville's small water system affect quality?

Ottoville's system serves approximately 976 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 6 violations on record.