Molybdenum Contamination

Molybdenum in Ohio Drinking Water

Ranked by max molybdenum detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

142

Cities Tested

Over HA

% Over HA

5.73 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 1% vs national

vs National

398

Health Violations

Analysis

Molybdenum in Ohio: what the data shows

Ohio has 142 cities with molybdenum data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Molybdenum exceeded the 40 µg/L EPA lifetime health advisory in 2 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 5.73 µg/L. Molybdenum is a naturally occurring trace element found in groundwater across the western United States, particularly in areas with shale or copper-mining geology. Industrial sources include mining, steel alloy production, and coal-fired power plants. There is no federal MCL — the EPA lifetime health advisory is 40 µg/L. Molybdenum is an essential nutrient at low doses, but chronic excess intake from drinking water has been linked to elevated uric acid, gout-like symptoms, and possible reproductive effects. Reverse osmosis is the most effective household treatment.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 40 µg/L EPA lifetime HA (no MCL)

Ohio

2 of 142 cities

← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)

National avg

36 of 2228 cities

City Map

Molybdenum data across Ohio

Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 molybdenum testing data. Cities where molybdenum exceeds the 40 µg/L EPA lifetime health advisory are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by molybdenum level in Ohio

Highest Molybdenum levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Ohio cities ranked by molybdenum level

#	City	Level	Over HA?	Violations	Grade
1	Wapakoneta	46.00 µg/L	Over HA	7	B
2	Heath	45.00 µg/L	Over HA	2	A-
3	Baltimore	33.00 µg/L	No	1	B
4	St Marys	32.00 µg/L	No	1	B
5	West Unity	30.52 µg/L	No	0	B
6	Delaware	28.00 µg/L	No	5	B
7	Nevada	20.75 µg/L	No	0	B+
8	Lancaster	18.25 µg/L	No	6	B+
9	Circleville	17.00 µg/L	No	5	B
10	Marion	16.00 µg/L	No	9	B-
11	Defiance	13.00 µg/L	No	171	F
12	Celina	13.00 µg/L	No	45	B-
13	Beavercreek	12.60 µg/L	No	9	B+
14	Marysville	12.25 µg/L	No	16	B+
15	Columbus	12.00 µg/L	No	56	F
16	Chagrin Falls	11.00 µg/L	No	1	C
17	Rossburg	10.13 µg/L	No	0	B+
18	Mount Vernon	10.00 µg/L	No	3	B+
19	Bexley	9.60 µg/L	No	16	C
20	Attica	9.48 µg/L	No	32	C-
21	Dayton	9.00 µg/L	No	43	F
22	Quincy	8.72 µg/L	No	0	A-
23	Pataskala	8.58 µg/L	No	4	B+
24	Findlay	8.30 µg/L	No	6	A-
25	Sidney	8.11 µg/L	No	5	B+
26	Lima	8.10 µg/L	No	16	F
27	Reynoldsburg	8.00 µg/L	No	0	B+
28	Glenford	7.70 µg/L	No	3	B+
29	Archbold	7.69 µg/L	No	16	B
30	Ashland	7.64 µg/L	No	2	B+
31	Bucyrus	7.20 µg/L	No	3	B
32	Waverly	7.13 µg/L	No	4	C+
33	Norwalk	6.90 µg/L	No	12	B+
34	Bryan	6.62 µg/L	No	1	B+
35	Fremont	6.60 µg/L	No	44	B-
36	Piqua	6.47 µg/L	No	12	B
37	Bellefontaine	6.34 µg/L	No	5	B
38	Chillicothe	6.30 µg/L	No	0	B+
39	Oak Hill	6.01 µg/L	No	9	B-
40	Kettering	5.70 µg/L	No	14	C
41	Fostoria	5.70 µg/L	No	32	F
42	Greenville	5.61 µg/L	No	4	A-
43	West Union	5.50 µg/L	No	3	B
44	Urbana	5.50 µg/L	No	24	C+
45	Bowling Green	5.40 µg/L	No	85	F
46	Van Wert	5.40 µg/L	No	47	C
47	Newark	5.10 µg/L	No	6	B-
48	Williamsport	5.00 µg/L	No	31	C-
49	Cedarville	5.00 µg/L	No	1	B+
50	Cincinnati	4.90 µg/L	No	10	F
51	Huber Heights	4.90 µg/L	No	4	A-
52	Mcdermott	4.70 µg/L	No	2	A
53	Fairfield	4.44 µg/L	No	9	B
54	Springfield	4.22 µg/L	No	42	F
55	Berea	4.13 µg/L	No	1	B+
56	Jamestown	4.10 µg/L	No	4	B
57	Lucasville	4.07 µg/L	No	3	A-
58	Pickerington	3.99 µg/L	No	1	A-
59	Batavia	3.98 µg/L	No	2	B+
60	Vandalia	3.70 µg/L	No	10	B+
61	Miamisburg	3.60 µg/L	No	2	C
62	Clyde	3.53 µg/L	No	0	B+
63	Little Hocking	3.50 µg/L	No	0	B+
64	Trenton	3.50 µg/L	No	10	B-
65	Whitehouse	3.41 µg/L	No	8	B
66	Wadsworth	3.40 µg/L	No	0	B+
67	Oregon	3.40 µg/L	No	1	B+
68	Maumee	3.40 µg/L	No	6	B-
69	Reading	3.28 µg/L	No	3	B
70	Ripley	3.24 µg/L	No	1	A-
71	Sylvania	3.20 µg/L	No	0	A-
72	Franklin	3.10 µg/L	No	2	B+
73	Monroe	3.10 µg/L	No	2	B
74	Toledo	3.00 µg/L	No	13	B
75	Mansfield	3.00 µg/L	No	37	F
76	Springboro	3.00 µg/L	No	4	B+
77	Napoleon	2.98 µg/L	No	20	A-
78	Hamilton	2.90 µg/L	No	5	B-
79	Wilmington	2.86 µg/L	No	26	B
80	Lebanon	2.80 µg/L	No	28	D
81	Norwood	2.80 µg/L	No	3	B+
82	Somerville	2.61 µg/L	No	2	A
83	Salem	2.60 µg/L	No	11	C+
84	New Richmond	2.50 µg/L	No	0	B-
85	Englewood	2.50 µg/L	No	1	A-
86	Greenfield	2.50 µg/L	No	3	A-
87	Zanesville	2.49 µg/L	No	7	D+
88	Morrow	2.45 µg/L	No	7	B-
89	Jackson	2.44 µg/L	No	11	B-
90	Athens	2.30 µg/L	No	4	B+
91	Wellsville	2.30 µg/L	No	3	C+
92	Marietta	2.20 µg/L	No	11	F
93	Xenia	2.20 µg/L	No	1	A-
94	Cambridge	2.20 µg/L	No	86	C-
95	Ironton	2.03 µg/L	No	12	C-
96	Port Clinton	2.00 µg/L	No	46	D+
97	Steubenville	1.97 µg/L	No	30	F
98	Medina	1.90 µg/L	No	15	C+
99	Ravenna	1.90 µg/L	No	3	C
100	Waterford	1.82 µg/L	No	5	C+
101	Hillsboro	1.81 µg/L	No	8	B+
102	Barnesville	1.80 µg/L	No	14	C
103	Avon Lake	1.80 µg/L	No	2	A-
104	Loveland	1.80 µg/L	No	0	B+
105	Galion	1.80 µg/L	No	18	B-
106	Franklin Furnace	1.76 µg/L	No	8	D
107	Mentor	1.71 µg/L	No	6	B-
108	Lorain	1.70 µg/L	No	15	B+
109	East Liverpool	1.70 µg/L	No	14	B
110	Vermilion	1.70 µg/L	No	7	B+
111	Warren	1.60 µg/L	No	62	F
112	Wooster	1.60 µg/L	No	14	F
113	Avon	1.60 µg/L	No	1	A-
114	Coshocton	1.60 µg/L	No	13	B+
115	Amherst	1.60 µg/L	No	0	B+
116	Long Bottom	1.59 µg/L	No	1	A
117	Cleveland	1.50 µg/L	No	2	A-
118	Sandusky	1.50 µg/L	No	6	A-
119	Tipp City	1.50 µg/L	No	0	C+
120	Vienna	1.49 µg/L	No	9	B
121	Conneaut	1.49 µg/L	No	6	B+
122	Bellville	1.48 µg/L	No	9	C-
123	Painesville	1.40 µg/L	No	0	B+
124	Massillon	1.40 µg/L	No	13	D+
125	Lagrange	1.40 µg/L	No	10	C
126	Ashtabula	1.40 µg/L	No	3	B+
127	Huron	1.40 µg/L	No	13	C+
128	North Ridgeville	1.40 µg/L	No	1	B
129	Alliance	1.40 µg/L	No	17	B+
130	Aurora	1.40 µg/L	No	0	A-
131	Bedford	1.40 µg/L	No	0	A
132	Troy	1.39 µg/L	No	3	C
133	Kent	1.38 µg/L	No	36	F
134	Norton	1.30 µg/L	No	17	A-
135	Jefferson	1.30 µg/L	No	1	B
136	Lakewood	1.20 µg/L	No	0	B+
137	Niles	1.20 µg/L	No	1	B
138	Camden	1.20 µg/L	No	1	B+
139	Portsmouth	1.10 µg/L	No	1	B
140	New Philadelphia	1.10 µg/L	No	4	B
141	Girard	1.10 µg/L	No	0	B+
142	Youngstown	1.00 µg/L	No	3	C

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about molybdenum in Ohio

Is molybdenum in Ohio tap water harmful?

Molybdenum is an essential trace nutrient at low levels, but chronic exposure above the EPA's 40 µg/L lifetime health advisory has been associated with elevated uric acid, gout-like joint pain, and possible reproductive effects. 2 cities in Ohio exceed the 40 µg/L health advisory.

Where does molybdenum come from?

Molybdenum occurs naturally in groundwater, especially in the western US in regions with shale, copper mining, or molybdenum mining geology. Industrial sources include mining tailings, steel alloy production, and coal ash. Surface-water systems generally have lower molybdenum than groundwater.

How can I remove molybdenum from drinking water?

Reverse osmosis is the most effective household treatment for molybdenum, typically removing 90%+. Anion exchange and some specialty media (like activated alumina) also work. Standard activated carbon filters are NOT effective against molybdenum.

More contaminants