BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER

Q: Is BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER water safe to drink?

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER (PWS ID: OH0802012) has 309 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 32,090 people using Groundwater sources.

Q: What type of violations does BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER have?

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER has 309 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 302 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Q: Has PFAS been detected in BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER water?

No. BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

Q: What water source does BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER use?

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Q: Where does this data come from?

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 3, 2026

PWS ID: OH0802012 · RIPLEY, Ohio 45167

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER serves 32,090 people in RIPLEY, Ohio using Groundwater water sources. It has 309 recorded EPA violations, including 4 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.

Water Quality Snapshot: BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 32,090 residents in RIPLEY, Ohio (Brown County) through 11,679 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 309 total violations for this system , of which 4 (1%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 302 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Methoxychlor, recorded in 15 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Ohio, EPA tracks 4,181 public water systems serving 11,085,226 people, with 288,388 cumulative violations and 52,412 health-based violations on record. About 90% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 69 violations. BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER's 309 violations sit above the Ohio average. Statewide, 204 of 346 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (59%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served

32,090

Total Violations

309

Health-Based Violations

Water Source

Groundwater

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 11,679
County: Brown
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 4
Monitoring Violations: 302
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Methoxychlor	MR	15	1994
Toxaphene	MR	15	1994
2,4-D	MR	15	1994
2,4,5-TP	MR	15	1994
Endrin	MR	15	1994
BHC-GAMMA	MR	15	1994
Dalapon	MR	8	1994
Diquat	MR	8	1994
Glyphosate	MR	8	1994
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	8	1994
OXAMYL	MR	8	1994
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	MR	8	1994
Picloram	MR	8	1994
Aldicarb	MR	8	1994
Atrazine	MR	8	1994
Heptachlor	MR	8	1994
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)	MR	8	1994
Chlordane	MR	8	1994
Simazine	MR	8	1994
Dinoseb	MR	8	1994
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene	MR	8	1994
LASSO	MR	8	1994
Heptachlor epoxide	MR	8	1994
Benzo(a)pyrene	MR	8	1994
Pentachlorophenol	MR	8	1994
Endothall	MR	8	1994
Carbofuran	MR	8	1994
HEXACHLOROBENZENE	MR	8	1994
Aldicarb sulfone	MR	8	1994
Aldicarb sulfoxide	MR	8	1994

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 60 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFNA	8/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	8/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	8/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	8/15/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	8/15/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	8/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	8/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	8/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	8/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	8/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	8/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/15/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	8/15/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/15/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	8/15/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	8/15/2023	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	8/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	8/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	2/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	2/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	2/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	2/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFUnA	2/15/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	2/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	2/15/2023	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	2/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	2/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	2/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	2/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	2/15/2023	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	2/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	2/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	2/15/2023	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	2/15/2023	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	2/15/2023	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	2/15/2023	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	2/15/2023	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	2/15/2023	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID OH0802012 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Ohio Drinking Water Authority

Ohio EPA — Division of Drinking and Ground Waters is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER under EPA-delegated authority.

Open OH regulator portal

Source: Ohio EPA — Division of Drinking and Ground Waters

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest)	Contaminant	Category	Count	EPA Record
2014	Coliform (TCR)	MR	6	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 3100
2014	TTHM	MR	3	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2950
2014	Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	MR	3	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2456
2004	Coliform (TCR)	MCL	4	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 3100
1994	Methoxychlor	MR	15	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2015
1994	Toxaphene	MR	15	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2020
1994	2,4-D	MR	15	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2105
1994	2,4,5-TP	MR	15	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2110
1994	Endrin	MR	15	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2005
1994	BHC-GAMMA	MR	15	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2010
1994	Dalapon	MR	8	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2031
1994	Diquat	MR	8	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2032
1994	Glyphosate	MR	8	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2034
1994	Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate	MR	8	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2035
1994	OXAMYL	MR	8	SDWIS / OH0802012 / 2036

How BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric	BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER	Ohio avg	Federal benchmark
Total violations	309	69	SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations	4	12.5	Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection	None	59%	EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served	32,090	2,651	Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 4,181 regulated public water systems in Ohio.

Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼

Contaminant	Federal MCL / Action Level	Note
Lead	0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L)	Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic	0.010 mg/L (10 ppb)	Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform	Treatment technique (RTCR)	Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS)	4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule)	Compliance deadline 2029
Nitrate (as N)	10 mg/L	Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER water safe to drink? ▼

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER (PWS ID: OH0802012) has 309 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 32,090 people using Groundwater sources.

How many people does BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER serve? ▼

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER serves 32,090 people in RIPLEY, Ohio. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 11,679 service connections.

What type of violations does BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER have? ▼

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER has 309 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 302 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER water? ▼

No. BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER use? ▼

BROWN COUNTY RURAL WATER uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Where does this data come from? ▼

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

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Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

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