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Is Canton Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Yes! Generally Safe to Drink*

LAST UPDATED: 7:47 pm, August 1, 2022
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Table of Contents

Can You Drink Tap Water in Canton?

Yes, Canton's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Canton has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Canton's water utility, Canton Public Water System, had 4 non-health-based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Canton was resolved on Dec. 31, 2020. There has been an active violation for Consumer Confidence Rule since Dec. 31, 2020. This assessment is based on the Canton Public Water System water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Canton Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Canton tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Canton's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Canton Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Canton Public Water System for Canton in Ohio. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

For the compliance period beginning Oct. 25, 2021, Canton had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Consumer Confidence Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Consumer Confidence Rule.

For the compliance period beginning Dec. 31, 2020, Canton had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Other Violation, more specifically, the violation code was Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting which falls into the Other rule code group, and the Consumer Confidence Rule rule code family for the following contaminant code: Consumer Confidence Rule.

From Oct. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, Canton had 2 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violations with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) which falls into the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code group, and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule rule code family for the following contaminant codes: TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5).

Is there Lead in Canton Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Canton water system, Canton Public Water System, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0036 mg/L of lead in Canton water. This is 24.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Canton contained more lead.

While Canton water testing may have found 0.0036 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Canton Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Green Armory AASF#1 - near Canton with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Canton has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

Canton SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years

Compliance Period Status Health-Based? Category Code Code Rule Code Contaminant Code Rule Group Code Rule Family Code
10/25/2021 - Unaddressed No Other Violation (Other) Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting (72) Consumer Confidence Rule (420) Consumer Confidence Rule (7000) Other (400) Consumer Confidence Rule (420)
12/31/2020 - Unaddressed No Other Violation (Other) Consumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting (72) Consumer Confidence Rule (420) Consumer Confidence Rule (7000) Other (400) Consumer Confidence Rule (420)
10/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) TTHM (2950) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220)
10/01/2020 - 12/31/2020 Resolved No Monitoring and Reporting (MR) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) (27) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220) Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (2456) Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (200) Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (220)

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

  1. Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
  2. Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
  3. Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

  1. Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
  2. Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
  3. Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field Description
Compliance Period Dates of the compliance period.
Status Current status of the violation.
  • Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed.
  • Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive).
  • Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions.
  • Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement.
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Health-Based? Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code
The category of violation that is reported.
  • TT - Treatment Technique Violation
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level
  • Other - Other Violation
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation
  • MR - Monitoring and Reporting
  • MON - Monitoring Violation
  • RPT - Reporting Violation
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Code A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rule
  • 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Ground Water Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 331 - Nitrates
  • 332 - Arsenic
  • 333 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule
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Rule Group Code Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
  • 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules
  • 130 - Filter Backwash Rule
  • 140 - Groundwater Rule
  • 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 230 - Total Trihalomethanes
  • 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals
  • 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals
  • 330 - Inorganic Chemicals
  • 340 - Radionuclides
  • 350 - Lead and Copper Rule
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
  • 110 - Total Coliform Rules
  • 410 - Public Notice Rule
  • 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule
  • 430 - Miscellaneous
show details
Rule Family Code Code for rule family.
  • 100 - Microbials
  • 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
  • 300 - Chemicals
  • 400 - Other
  • 500 - Not Regulated
show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Canton Water - Frequently Asked Questions

HOW TO READ THE WATER QUALITY DATA TABLE: EPA ESTABLISHES THE SAFE DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS THAT LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CONTAMINANTS ALLOWED IN DRINKING WATER. THE TABLE SHOWS THE CONCENTRATIONS OF DETECTED SUBSTANCES IN COMPARISON TO REGULATORY LIMITS. SUBSTANCES THAT WERE TESTED FOR, BUT NOT DETECTED, ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS TABLE.
TABLE OF DETECTED CONTAMINANTS Lead and Copper Residual Disinfectants
WHAT IS HARD WATER?
Canton’s water contains the naturally occurring mineral calcium, which is better known as hardness. Water was nicknamed hard when people found it hard to make soap suds or lather from the water. The presence of calcium in the water is not a health concern, but rather somewhat of a nuisance that is very costly to remove on a large scale. Some individuals use a water softener to remove unwanted hardness. Calcium buildup can be removed from spigots and coffee pots using vinegar. Violations The City of Canton Water Department received a Notice of Violation, on 2/16/2021, for failure to monitor Disinfection Byproducts. The Notice of Violation is as follows. Canton Public Water System is in violation of Ohio Administrative Code Rule (OAC) 3745-81-24 for failing to monitor your drinking water during the Fourth Quarter of 2020 monitoring period and/or report results for the following contaminants: Disinfection By-Products. The Water Department failed to collect samples during the Fourth Quarter monitoring period, 10/1/2020 – 10/7/2020, as required by the Ohio EPA. The Water Department returned to compliance on 11/16/2020. Steps have been taken to ensure that all sampling will be conducted as required by enacting a more comprehensive management plan. Health effects Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
This notice is to inform you that Canton Public Water System did not monitor and report results for the presence of the contaminants listed above in the public drinking water system during the Fourth Quarter of 2020 time period, as required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. You do not need to take any actions in response to this notice. Upon being notified of this violation, the water supply was required to have the drinking water analyzed for the above mentioned parameters. The water supplier will take steps to ensure that adequate monitoring will be performed in the future. A sample was (will be) collected on 11/16/2020 Sample results and additional information may be obtained by contacting Canton Public Water System at: Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. PWSID: OH7608112 Facility ID: DS1 Date Distributed: 7/1/
WHAT IS BEING DONE?
Upon being notified of this violation, the water supply was required to have the drinking water analyzed for the above mentioned parameters. The water supplier will take steps to ensure that adequate monitoring will be performed in the future. A sample was (will be) collected on 11/16/2020 Sample results and additional information may be obtained by contacting Canton Public Water System at: Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. PWSID: OH7608112 Facility ID: DS1 Date Distributed: 7/1/
HOW DO I CONTACT CANTON CUSTOMER SERVICE?
To contact customer service for the Canton water provider, Canton Public Water System, please use the information below.
By Mail: 2664 HARRISBURG RD NE
CANTON, OH, 44705
HOW TO PAY BILL FOR CANTON PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Canton Public Water System account to pay their Canton water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Canton Public Water System bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Canton water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Canton water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP CANTON WATER SERVICE
Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Canton means you will often need to put the water in your name with Canton Public Water System. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Canton means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Canton Public Water System. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

The estimated price of bottled water

$1.9 in USD (1.5-liter)

USER SUBMITTED RATINGS

Canton tap water
  • Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 27% Low
  • Water Pollution 25% Low
  • Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 100% Very High
  • Water Quality 75% High

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Canton, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Related FAQS

Canton Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Canton's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

City of Canton Water Department

Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report

For 2020

The City of Canton Water Department has prepared the following report to provide information to you, the consumer, on the quality of our drinking water. Included within this report is general health information, water quality test results, how to participate in decisions concerning your drinking water and water system contacts.

The Canton Water Department is pleased to present our twenty-third Annual Water Quality Report. The City of Canton is fortunate to have an abundant, dependable source of high quality drinking water. We are proud to announce that our water continues to meet or exceed all federal and state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) primary standards set for public health. During the 2020 year we had a current, unconditional license to operate our water system.

The Canton Water Department has been reinvesting heavily in the future of our public water system through the repair and replacement of aging infrastructure. We have also sought to extend water mains and add new customers where practical. In 2020 alone, 3.2 miles of aging water main were replaced and an additional 5.8 miles of new water main were added to the distribution system. We also installed a new waste water dechlorination system at our Sugar Creek water treatment plant. This will lessen the impact on the environment from discharge water we return to the wetlands and ensure we maintain regulatory compliance.

What to expect from your drinking water? In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

What is the source of Canton’s drinking water? Canton Water Department obtains 100% of its water from underground wells. Our wells extend 100-200 feet deep into sand and gravel aquifers that were created long ago by glacial activity. These natural aquifers provided Canton with 6.91 Billion gallons of water in 2020. We have three separate well fields that supply water to our three water treatment plants. The first is referred to as our Northeast Well Field, which is located in the northeast section of Canton which produced 1.77 Billion gallons of water. The second is referred to as our Northwest Well Field, which is located in the northwest section of Canton which produced 1.35 Billion gallons of water. Finally, our Sugarcreek Well Field is located southwest of Canton which produced 3.79 Billion gallons of water. The Source Water Assessment Reports have been completed for all three well fields. The reports indicate the well fields are highly susceptible to contamination due to the physical nature and location of the respective aquifers. A high susceptibility rating of the aquifer does not imply that the well fields will become contaminated.

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It only means that the existing/known aquifer conditions are such that ground water within the aquifer could become impacted if the potential contaminant sources are not appropriately managed. We have taken protective measures to avoid contamination. More information can be obtained by contacting Chris Boehm at chris.boehm@cantonohio.gov Should you need to obtain the Source Water Assessment Report please contact the Ohio EPA.

The Wellhead Protection Program is designed to monitor the aquifer for contaminates beginning at a 5- year travel time for ground water. This gives the Canton Water Department 5 years, from the first detection of contaminates, to install mitigation and other treatment techniques to insure the health and safety of our consumers.

Backup Measures: Should the need ever arise, we have several protective backup systems built into our utility that enable us to ensure a dependable flow of drinking water to our consumers. As previously mentioned, Canton has three separate water treatment plants and well fields. If one plant is taken off-line, the other two plants can make up the difference in water production. The City also has nearly 30 million gallons of drinking water stored in enclosed reservoirs, acting as a protective reserve of water. Another backup system includes diesel generators at the Northeast and Sugarcreek Water Treatment Plants. These powerful generators can provide enough electricity to operate the plants in the event of a widespread power outage. The systems described above ensure that the Canton Water Department can provide a dependable supply of drinking water to all of our consumers

What are sources of contamination to drinking water? The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.

Contaminants that may be present in source water include: (A) Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife; (B) Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally- occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming; (C) Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses; (D) Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems; (E) Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

Who needs to take special precautions? Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infection. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

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What’s in Canton’s Drinking Water? The EPA requires regular sampling to ensure drinking water safety. The City of Canton Water Department conducted sampling for OEPA compliance purposes, UCMR4 and our Wellhead Protection Program. The following tables list those contaminates found in the drinking water. Most contaminates were not detected in the drinking water. The Ohio EPA requires us to monitor for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though accurate, are more than one year old.

How to read the Water Quality Data Table: EPA establishes the safe drinking water regulations that limit the amount of contaminants allowed in drinking water. The table shows the concentrations of detected substances in comparison to regulatory limits. Substances that were tested for, but not detected, are not included in this table.

TABLE OF DETECTED CONTAMINANTS

Lead and Copper

 

 

 

Action

 

Individual Results

 

90% of test

 

 

 

Year

 

 

 

 

Contaminants (units)

 

levels were

 

Violation

 

Typical source of Contaminants

 

 

 

Level (AL)

 

over the AL

 

 

 

Sampled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less than

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15 ppb

 

None

 

3.6 ppb

 

No

 

2019

 

Corrosion of household

 

 

Lead (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

plumbing systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__0_ out of _50__ samples were found to have lead levels in excess of the lead action level of 15 ppb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.3 ppm

 

None

 

0.37 ppm

 

No

 

2019

 

Corrosion of household

 

 

Copper (ppm)

 

 

 

 

 

 

plumbing systems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

__0_ out of _50_ samples were found to have copper levels in excess of the copper action level of 1.3 ppm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contaminants

 

MCLG

 

MCL

 

Level

 

 

Range of

 

Violation

 

Sample

 

Typical Source of

 

 

(Units)

 

 

 

Found

 

 

Detections

 

 

Year

 

Contaminants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inorganic Contaminants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barium in PPM

 

2

 

2

 

0.11

 

 

0.058 - 0.110

 

No

 

2019

 

Discharge from metals refineries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and erosion of natural deposits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erosion of natural deposits;

 

 

Fluoride in PPM

 

4

 

4

 

1.23

 

 

0.91 – 1.23

 

No

 

2020

 

water additive which promotes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

strong teeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residual Disinfectants

Total Chlorine in

PPM

MRDLG MRDG

4

 

4

 

 

 

0.84

0.70 – 0.95

No

2020

Water additive to control

microbes

Disinfection By-products

 

TTHM in PPB

 

MRDLG

 

80

 

36

 

11.5 - 45.9

 

No

 

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination

 

 

Trihalomethanes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAA5 in PPB

 

MRDLG

 

60

 

12.3

 

ND - 14.8

 

No

 

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

 

Haloacetic Acids

 

N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Contaminants

 

MCLG

 

MCL

 

Level

 

Range of

 

Violation

 

Sample

 

Typical Source of

 

(Units)

 

 

 

Found

 

Detections

 

 

Year

 

Contaminants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unregulated Contaminates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bromodichloromethane

 

0

 

None

 

7.7

 

3.2 - 13.7

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

in PPB

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, a TTHM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bromoform in PPB

 

0

 

None

 

1.8

 

1.0 - 3.6

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, a TTHM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chloroform in PPB

 

0

 

None

 

7.6

 

2.4 -19.0

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, a TTHM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dibromochloromethane

 

0

 

None

 

5.7

 

3.8 - 10.5

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

in PPB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, a TTHM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dichloracetic Acid in

 

0

 

None

 

3.7

 

1.3 - 7.7

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

PPB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, an HHA5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trichloroacetic Acid

 

0

 

None

 

2.5

 

ND- 5.3

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

in PPB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, an HHA5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dibromoacetic Acid

 

0

 

None

 

1.7

 

ND – 2.7

 

No

2020

 

By-product of drinking water

 

in PPB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chlorination, an HHA5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) Sampling

Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted. In 2020 the Canton Water Department participated in the fourth round of the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4). To obtain results from UCMR4 please contact Chris Boehm at chris.boehm@cantonohio.gov

UCMR4

 

Contaminants (Units)

 

Sample Year

 

Average Level Found

 

Range of Detections

 

Sample Location

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Manganese (ppb)

 

2020

 

2.5

 

1.1 - 2.5

 

Entry Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haloacetic Acids

 

2020

 

6.5

 

3.63 - 9.2

 

Distribution

 

 

HAA5 (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haloacetic Acids

 

2020

 

13.6

 

8.69 - 18.5

 

Distribution

 

 

HAA9 (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haloacetic Acids

 

2020

 

10.4

 

5.6 - 11.93

 

Distribution

 

 

HAA6Br (ppb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2-Methoxyethanol (ppb)

 

2020

 

3.3

 

ND - 3.3

 

Entry Point

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lead Educational Information

If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. The City of Canton Water Department is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead

PFAS Sampling: In 2020, the City of Canton Water Department was sampled as part of the State of Ohio’s Drinking Water Per- and Polyfluoroakyl Substances (PFAS) Sampling Initiative. Six PFAS compounds were sampled, and none were detected in our finished drinking water. For more information about PFAS, please visit pfas.ohio.gov

Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) Information: The Revised Total Coliform Rule maintains the purpose to protect public health by ensuring the integrity of the drinking water distribution system and monitoring for the presence of total coliform bacteria, which includes E. coli bacteria. The U.S. EPA anticipates greater public health protection under the rule, as it requires water systems that are vulnerable to microbial contamination to identify and fix problems. As a result, the new rule requires water systems that exceed a specified frequency of total coliform occurrences to conduct an assessment to determine if any significant deficiencies exist. The Canton Water Department was not issued any assessments or deficiencies in 2020.

How do I participate in decisions concerning my drinking water? Public participation and comments are encouraged at regular meetings of the City Council which meets every Monday at 7:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. During the summer months of June, July and August, the Council meets every other week.

Who do I contact for more information?

For more information about your drinking water contact the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800- 426-4791; or contact the Northeast District Office of Ohio EPA at (330) 963-1200; or contact the Water Department Superintendent, Mr. Tyler S. Converse at (330) 489-3308.

Why do I occasionally see discolored water leaving my tap?

Discolored water is usually due to the presence of iron. Visible Iron in drinking water can be caused by oxidation of dissolved iron by chlorine in the water, corrosion in the pipes that carry the water from the treatment plant to your home or corrosion in your home’s plumbing, including the hot water heater.

Problems with discolored water usually clear themselves within a day. If you have a prolonged discolored water problem, please notify us.

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Hydrant Flushing: During the warm summer months, you may see Water Department personnel flushing fire hydrants. We do this to remove the accumulation of iron sediment in the pipes, thereby reducing discolored water situations over the long term. Be aware, however, that hydrant flushing may temporarily cause both a drop in water pressure and discolored water.

What is hard water?

Canton’s water contains the naturally occurring mineral calcium, which is better known as hardness. Water was nicknamed hard when people found it hard to make soap suds or lather from the water. The presence of calcium in the water is not a health concern, but rather somewhat of a nuisance that is very costly to remove on a large scale. Some individuals use a water softener to remove unwanted hardness. Calcium buildup can be removed from spigots and coffee pots using vinegar.

Violations

The City of Canton Water Department received a Notice of Violation, on 2/16/2021, for failure to monitor Disinfection Byproducts. The Notice of Violation is as follows.

Canton Public Water System is in violation of Ohio Administrative Code Rule (OAC) 3745-81-24 for failing to monitor your drinking water during the Fourth Quarter of 2020 monitoring period and/or report results for the following contaminants: Disinfection By-Products.

The Water Department failed to collect samples during the Fourth Quarter monitoring period, 10/1/2020 – 10/7/2020, as required by the Ohio EPA. The Water Department returned to compliance on 11/16/2020.

Steps have been taken to ensure that all sampling will be conducted as required by enacting a more comprehensive management plan.

Health effects

Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer

Some people who drink water containing haloacetic acids in excess of the MCL over many years may have an increased risk of getting cancer

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Public Notice

Drinking Water Notice. Monitoring requirements not met for Canton Public Water System.

We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not our drinking water meets health standards. During the Fourth Quarter of 2020 time period we did not monitor for the following contaminants and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water during that time: Disinfection By-Products.

What Should I Do?

This notice is to inform you that Canton Public Water System did not monitor and report results for the presence of the contaminants listed above in the public drinking water system during the Fourth Quarter of 2020 time period, as required by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. You do not need to take any actions in response to this notice.

What Is Being Done?

Upon being notified of this violation, the water supply was required to have the drinking water analyzed for the above mentioned parameters. The water supplier will take steps to ensure that adequate monitoring will be performed in the future.

A sample was (will be) collected on 11/16/2020

Sample results and additional information may be obtained by contacting Canton Public Water System at:

Contact Person:

Chris Boehm

Phone Number:

330 438 6562

Mailing Address:

2664 Harrisburg Rd

 

Canton, Ohio

 

44705

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

PWSID: OH7608112 Facility ID: DS1

Date Distributed: 7/1/2021

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Definitions:

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Parts per Million (ppm) or Milligrams per Liter (mg/L) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per million corresponds to one second in a little over 11 days.

Parts per Billion (ppb) or Micrograms per Liter (µg/L) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per billion corresponds to one second in about 32 years.

Parts per Trillion (ppt) or Nanograms per Liter (ng/L) are units of measure for concentration of a contaminant. A part per trillion corresponds to one second in 31,546 years.

Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

ND: Contaminate Not Detected.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal: (MRDLG) The level of drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contaminants.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.

PFAS: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A group of man-made chemicals applied to many industrial, commercial and consumer products to make them waterproof, stain resistant, or nonstick. PFAS are also used in products like cosmetics, fast food packaging, and a type of firefighting foam called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) which are used mainly on large spills of flammable liquids, such as jet fuel. PFAS are classified as contaminants of emerging concern, meaning that research into the harm they may cause to human health is still ongoing.

Treatment Technique (TT): A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

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Contaminants


Canton Public Water System

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency - Division of Drinking and Ground Waters, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility details

  • Serves: 98260
  • Data available: 2012-2017
  • Data Source: Groundwater
  • Total: 19

Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines

  • Bromodichloromethane
  • Bromoform
  • Chloroform
  • Dibromochloromethane
  • Dichloroacetic acid
  • Radium%2C combined (-226 & -228)
  • Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
  • Trichloroacetic acid

Other Detected Contaminants

  • 1%2C4-Dioxane
  • Barium
  • Chromium (hexavalent)
  • Dibromoacetic acid
  • Fluoride
  • Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
  • Monochloroacetic acid
  • Nitrate
  • Nitrate and nitrite
  • Simazine
  • Strontium

Reminder

Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.

Sources and Resources

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