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Community Water System · PWS OH7004511

Shelby City

Shelby, Ohio 44875-1280 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 9,453 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

9,453
People served
189
EPA violations
99
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 189 drinking-water violations at Shelby City, 52% of them health-based - above the Ohio per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

189
Total EPA violations on record
52%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
9,453
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Shelby City

Shelby City is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 9,453 residents in Shelby, Ohio (Richland County) through 4,172 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 189 total violations for this system , of which 99 (52%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 86 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 51 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 8.1 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

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%).

Shelby City's 189 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.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
9,453
Total Violations
189
Health-Based Violations
99
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,172
County
Richland
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
75
Monitoring Violations
86
Treatment Tech Violations
24

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 51 2006
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 24 1997
Coliform (TCR) MCL 24 1992
Coliform (TCR) MR 9 1991
Barium MR 6 1993
Cadmium MR 6 1993
Chromium MR 6 1993
Fluoride MR 6 1993
Nitrate MR 6 2005
Mercury MR 6 1993
Selenium MR 6 1993
Arsenic MR 6 1993
Beryllium, Total MR 5 1993
Thallium, Total MR 5 1993
Nickel MR 5 1993
CYANIDE MR 5 1993
Antimony, Total MR 5 1993
E. COLI MR 4 2018
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 2018

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
8:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 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
6:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/18/2023 8.10 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/18/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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
4:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/12/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/12/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/12/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/12/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/12/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/12/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/12/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/12/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 Shelby City.

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 OH7004511 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 Shelby City 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
2018 E. COLI MR 4 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 3014
2018 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 1 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 7000
2006 TTHM MCL 51 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 2950
2005 Nitrate MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1040
1997 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 24 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 0200
1993 Barium MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1010
1993 Cadmium MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1015
1993 Chromium MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1020
1993 Fluoride MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1025
1993 Mercury MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1035
1993 Selenium MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1045
1993 Arsenic MR 6 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1005
1993 Beryllium, Total MR 5 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1075
1993 Thallium, Total MR 5 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1085
1993 Nickel MR 5 SDWIS / OH7004511 / 1036

How Shelby City Compares

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

Metric Shelby City Ohio avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 189 69 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 99 12.5 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 59% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 9,453 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 Shelby City water safe to drink? ▼
Shelby City (PWS ID: OH7004511) has 189 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 9,453 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Shelby City serve? ▼
Shelby City serves 9,453 people in Shelby, Ohio. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 4,172 service connections.
What type of violations does Shelby City have? ▼
Shelby City has 189 total violations: 99 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 86 monitoring/reporting violations, and 24 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Shelby City water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Shelby City's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Shelby City use? ▼
Shelby City 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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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.