Manganese Contamination

Manganese in Ohio Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

119

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

% Over SMCL

14.1 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 15% vs national

vs National

398

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in Ohio: what the data shows

Ohio has 119 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 3 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 14.1 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

Ohio

3 of 119 cities

← ▼ 15% below national rate (better)

National avg

18%

729 of 4068 cities

City Map

Manganese data across Ohio

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in Ohio

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Ohio cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	Ironton	868.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	12	C-
2	Conneaut	57.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	6	B+
3	North Ridgeville	53.1 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	B
4	Gallipolis	49.9 µg/L	No	3	B
5	Kent	37.3 µg/L	No	36	F
6	Oak Hill	31.9 µg/L	No	9	B-
7	Jefferson	31.9 µg/L	No	1	B
8	Stow	25.7 µg/L	No	4	C+
9	Tallmadge	25.3 µg/L	No	1	B
10	Urbana	23.8 µg/L	No	24	C+
11	Bexley	22.5 µg/L	No	16	C
12	Portsmouth	21.7 µg/L	No	1	B
13	Amherst	21.1 µg/L	No	0	B+
14	Hillsboro	18.7 µg/L	No	8	B+
15	Roseville	17.2 µg/L	No	0	A-
16	Jackson	16.4 µg/L	No	11	B-
17	Lancaster	15.1 µg/L	No	6	B+
18	Norton	14.7 µg/L	No	17	A-
19	Baltimore	13.1 µg/L	No	1	B
20	Batavia	12.6 µg/L	No	2	B+
21	Columbia Station	12.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
22	Medina	11.7 µg/L	No	15	C+
23	Alliance	10.8 µg/L	No	17	B+
24	Mentor	10.3 µg/L	No	6	B-
25	Huron	10.1 µg/L	No	13	C+
26	Aurora	9.8 µg/L	No	0	A-
27	Jamestown	9.2 µg/L	No	4	B
28	Little Hocking	8.6 µg/L	No	0	B+
29	East Liverpool	8.5 µg/L	No	14	B
30	Findlay	8.0 µg/L	No	6	A-
31	Lagrange	7.5 µg/L	No	10	C
32	Mansfield	7.4 µg/L	No	37	F
33	Russia	7.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
34	Cambridge	7.2 µg/L	No	86	C-
35	Marion	6.9 µg/L	No	9	B-
36	New Philadelphia	6.7 µg/L	No	4	B
37	Norwalk	6.0 µg/L	No	12	B+
38	Bowling Green	5.8 µg/L	No	85	F
39	Chillicothe	5.5 µg/L	No	0	B+
40	Huber Heights	5.4 µg/L	No	4	A-
41	Coshocton	5.3 µg/L	No	13	B+
42	Painesville	5.2 µg/L	No	0	B+
43	Wapakoneta	5.2 µg/L	No	7	B
44	Lima	5.1 µg/L	No	16	F
45	Barnesville	4.3 µg/L	No	14	C
46	Ravenna	4.3 µg/L	No	3	C
47	Franklin	4.3 µg/L	No	2	B+
48	Sandusky	4.2 µg/L	No	6	A-
49	Botkins	4.0 µg/L	No	10	B
50	Fairfield	3.8 µg/L	No	9	B
51	Cleveland	3.8 µg/L	No	2	A-
52	Streetsboro	3.8 µg/L	No	1	A+
53	Hamilton	3.5 µg/L	No	5	B-
54	Massillon	3.1 µg/L	No	13	D+
55	Youngstown	3.1 µg/L	No	3	C
56	Franklin Furnace	3.1 µg/L	No	8	D
57	Waverly	2.8 µg/L	No	4	C+
58	Lebanon	2.8 µg/L	No	28	D
59	Bedford	2.8 µg/L	No	0	A
60	Bristol	2.6 µg/L	No	5	A
61	Bellefontaine	2.5 µg/L	No	5	B
62	Canton	2.5 µg/L	No	2	B-
63	New Richmond	2.2 µg/L	No	0	B-
64	Steubenville	2.2 µg/L	No	30	F
65	Beavercreek	2.1 µg/L	No	9	B+
66	Vermilion	2.0 µg/L	No	7	B+
67	Delaware	2.0 µg/L	No	5	B
68	Athens	2.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
69	Avon	1.9 µg/L	No	1	A-
70	Van Wert	1.8 µg/L	No	47	C
71	West Union	1.7 µg/L	No	3	B
72	Avon Lake	1.6 µg/L	No	2	A-
73	Bluffton	1.6 µg/L	No	19	B+
74	Vandalia	1.4 µg/L	No	10	B+
75	Niles	1.4 µg/L	No	1	B
76	Trenton	1.3 µg/L	No	10	B-
77	Wooster	1.3 µg/L	No	14	F
78	Marietta	1.2 µg/L	No	11	F
79	Warren	1.2 µg/L	No	62	F
80	Monroe	1.2 µg/L	No	2	B
81	Maumee	1.2 µg/L	No	6	B-
82	Girard	1.2 µg/L	No	0	B+
83	Mcdermott	1.2 µg/L	No	2	A
84	Cardington	1.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
85	Cincinnati	1.0 µg/L	No	10	F
86	Miamisburg	1.0 µg/L	No	2	C
87	Ontario	1.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
88	Defiance	1.0 µg/L	No	171	F
89	Lorain	1.0 µg/L	No	15	B+
90	Ashland	0.9 µg/L	No	2	B+
91	Port Clinton	0.8 µg/L	No	46	D+
92	Dayton	0.8 µg/L	No	43	F
93	Sylvania	0.8 µg/L	No	0	A-
94	Toledo	0.8 µg/L	No	13	B
95	Wellsville	0.8 µg/L	No	3	C+
96	New Carlisle	0.7 µg/L	No	5	B+
97	Clarksville	0.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
98	Carrollton	0.7 µg/L	No	2	B-
99	Marysville	0.7 µg/L	No	16	B+
100	Ashtabula	0.7 µg/L	No	3	B+
101	Lucasville	0.6 µg/L	No	3	A-
102	Newark	0.6 µg/L	No	6	B-
103	Struthers	0.6 µg/L	No	1	B+
104	Somerville	0.6 µg/L	No	2	A
105	Pataskala	0.6 µg/L	No	4	B+
106	Mcdonald	0.6 µg/L	No	1	B+
107	Xenia	0.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
108	N Canton	0.5 µg/L	No	0	A-
109	Cuyahoga Falls	0.5 µg/L	No	3	B-
110	Lakewood	0.5 µg/L	No	0	B+
111	Wadsworth	0.5 µg/L	No	0	B+
112	Columbus	0.5 µg/L	No	56	F
113	Archbold	0.5 µg/L	No	16	B
114	Piqua	0.5 µg/L	No	12	B
115	Groveport	0.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
116	Fremont	0.5 µg/L	No	44	B-
117	Salem	0.5 µg/L	No	11	C+
118	Whitehouse	0.4 µg/L	No	8	B
119	Camden	0.4 µg/L	No	1	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in Ohio

Is manganese in Ohio tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 3 cities in Ohio exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in Ohio water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

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