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Community Water System · PWS OH4700411

Elyria Water Department

Lorain, Ohio 44053 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 68,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

68,000
People served
74
EPA violations
23
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 74 drinking-water violations at Elyria Water Department, 31% of them health-based - above the Ohio per-system average.

74
Total EPA violations on record
31%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
68,000
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Elyria Water Department

Elyria Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 68,000 residents in Lorain, Ohio (Lorain County) through 24,490 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 74 total violations for this system , of which 23 (31%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 50 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 8 violations (TT, health-based). 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. Statewide, 204 of 346 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (59%).

Elyria Water Department's 74 violations sit above the Ohio average.

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
68,000
Total Violations
74
Health-Based Violations
23
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
24,490
County
Lorain
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
5
Monitoring Violations
50
Treatment Tech Violations
18

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 8 2014
Lead and Copper Rule TT 6 2003
Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 2015
Barium MR 4 2002
Cadmium MR 4 2002
CYANIDE MR 4 2002
Nickel MR 4 2002
Thallium, Total MR 4 2002
Beryllium, Total MR 4 2002
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 1997
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 2011
Mercury MR 4 2002
Chromium MR 4 2002
Antimony, Total MR 4 2002
Selenium MR 4 2002
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 2023
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 2012

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFHxS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/18/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/25/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/25/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/25/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/25/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/25/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt 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 Elyria Water Department.

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 OH4700411 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 Elyria Water Department 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
2023 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 0300
2015 Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 3100
2014 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 8 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 0300
2012 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 0200
2011 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 0200
2003 Lead and Copper Rule TT 6 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 5000
2002 Barium MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1010
2002 Cadmium MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1015
2002 CYANIDE MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1024
2002 Nickel MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1036
2002 Thallium, Total MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1085
2002 Beryllium, Total MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1075
2002 Mercury MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1035
2002 Chromium MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1020
2002 Antimony, Total MR 4 SDWIS / OH4700411 / 1074

How Elyria Water Department Compares

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

Metric Elyria Water Department Ohio avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 74 69 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 23 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 68,000 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 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Elyria Water Department water safe to drink?
Elyria Water Department (PWS ID: OH4700411) has 74 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 68,000 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Elyria Water Department serve?
Elyria Water Department serves 68,000 people in Lorain, Ohio. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 24,490 service connections.
What type of violations does Elyria Water Department have?
Elyria Water Department has 74 total violations: 23 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 50 monitoring/reporting violations, and 18 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Elyria Water Department water?
No. Elyria Water Department was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Elyria Water Department use?
Elyria Water Department uses Surface Water 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.
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.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.