Best Tap Water in the U.S.

Last updated November 24, 2024

Water Quality Violations
Average Water Bill
Top
Last
Water Quality Violations
1.HawaiiHawaii2
2.NebraskaNebraska121
3.DelawareDelaware131
4.KentuckyKentucky142
5.South CarolinaSouth Carolina196
6.North DakotaNorth Dakota199
7.Rhode IslandRhode Island243
8.South DakotaSouth Dakota303
9.NevadaNevada358
10.AlabamaAlabama376
11.MarylandMaryland400
12.MassachusettsMassachusetts545
13.MinnesotaMinnesota545
14.WyomingWyoming632
15.TennesseeTennessee671
16.New HampshireNew Hampshire673
17.UtahUtah815
18.IowaIowa852
19.MississippiMississippi1,129
20.ArkansasArkansas1,135
21.KansasKansas1,140
22.VirginiaVirginia1,288
23.GeorgiaGeorgia1,312
24.VermontVermont1,376
25.MissouriMissouri1,820
26.CaliforniaCalifornia2,038
27.MontanaMontana2,092
28.OregonOregon2,317
29.IdahoIdaho2,503
30.North CarolinaNorth Carolina2,877
31.ConnecticutConnecticut2,900
32.WisconsinWisconsin2,903
33.MaineMaine2,907
34.ColoradoColorado2,929
35.LouisianaLouisiana3,103
36.ArizonaArizona3,122
37.FloridaFlorida3,192
38.OhioOhio3,598
39.New MexicoNew Mexico3,700
40.New JerseyNew Jersey3,815
41.WashingtonWashington3,907
42.IndianaIndiana4,612
43.IllinoisIllinois4,637
44.AlaskaAlaska4,650
45.MichiganMichigan5,111
46.OklahomaOklahoma5,379
47.New YorkNew York5,607
48.West VirginiaWest Virginia8,490
49.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania21,527
50.TexasTexas23,628

Introduction

In all corners of America, from Alaska's glacial rivers to Florida's tropical springs, the quality of tap water is a testament to the natural resources, infrastructure, and regulatory fortitude of each state. With over 50,000 community water systems in the U.S, the quality of tap water can drastically vary, making it an intricate part of our everyday lives and health. According to the most recent water quality violation data, there is a wide range in the commitment and success by states in maintaining compliance with federal water standards.

Our analysis relies on the water quality violations metric, which catalogues the instances when tap water quality fails to meet federal guidelines in a state. Fewer violations commonly indicate a more robust drinking water sector and cleaner tap water. Still, it's necessary to remember that these figures are statewide totals and might not reflect the specific conditions in individual cities or communities.

Key findings:

  • Hawaii shines as the U.S state with the best tap water, recording a mere two water quality violations. This is a remarkable achievement given the standard of federal water quality regulations.
  • The two subsequent top-performers are Nebraska and Delaware, with 121 and 131 violations respectively.
  • An alarming trend emerges as we analyze states at the other end of the spectrum. Texas (23,628 violations), Pennsylvania (21,527 violations) and West Virginia (8,490 violations), are struggling significantly with maintaining clean tap water.
  • Overall, a strong geographical trend doesn't leap out from the data, with top performers spread across the country, from the islands of Hawaii to the heartlands of Nebraska.

Best Tap Water in the U.S.

Region ↕Water Quality Violations↕Average Water Bill↕
Alabama iconAlabama376$30
Alaska iconAlaska4,650$68
Arizona iconArizona3,122$64
Arkansas iconArkansas1,135$26
California iconCalifornia2,038$77
Colorado iconColorado2,929$39
Connecticut iconConnecticut2,900$69
Delaware iconDelaware131$46
Florida iconFlorida3,192$33
Georgia iconGeorgia1,312$28
Hawaii iconHawaii2$64
Idaho iconIdaho2,503$38
Illinois iconIllinois4,637$26
Indiana iconIndiana4,612$30
Iowa iconIowa852$32
Kansas iconKansas1,140$27
Kentucky iconKentucky142$49
Louisiana iconLouisiana3,103$21
Maine iconMaine2,907$24
Maryland iconMaryland400$46
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts545$34
Michigan iconMichigan5,111$29
Minnesota iconMinnesota545$28
Mississippi iconMississippi1,129$23
Missouri iconMissouri1,820$39
Montana iconMontana2,092$38
Nebraska iconNebraska121$23
Nevada iconNevada358$26
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire673$27
New Jersey iconNew Jersey3,815$72
New Mexico iconNew Mexico3,700$32
New York iconNew York5,607$30
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina2,877$20
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota199$31
Ohio iconOhio3,598$27
Oklahoma iconOklahoma5,379$35
Oregon iconOregon2,317$76
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania21,527$31
Rhode Island iconRhode Island243$32
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina196$33
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota303$26
Tennessee iconTennessee671$43
Texas iconTexas23,628$37
Utah iconUtah815$38
Vermont iconVermont1,376$18
Virginia iconVirginia1,288$36
Washington iconWashington3,907$75
West Virginia iconWest Virginia8,490$91
Wisconsin iconWisconsin2,903$18
Wyoming iconWyoming632$53

States with the Best Tap Water

The state with the the best tap water in the United States is none other than the tropical paradise, Hawaii. Boasting a remarkably low number of two water quality violations, Hawaii demonstrates exceptional commitment to maintaining pure and safe water sources.

Following in Hawaii's footsteps are several states where efforts to ensure clean tap water do not go unnoticed. Nebraska and Delaware, with 121 and 131 water quality violations respectively, take the second and third place. The fourth spot goes to Kentucky with 142 water quality violations, and South Carolina follows close with 196 violations. North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Nevada, and Alabama complete the top ten, with water quality violations ranging from 199 to 376. These states, despite their geographic diversity, share a common success in providing relatively safe and clean tap water to their residents.

States with the Best Tap Water (Number of Violations):

  1. Hawaii - 2
  2. Nebraska - 121
  3. Delaware - 131
  4. Kentucky - 142
  5. South Carolina - 196
  6. North Dakota - 199
  7. Rhode Island - 243
  8. South Dakota - 303
  9. Nevada - 358
  10. Alabama - 376

By Region

Alabama

See Less

Ranked in U.S.

#10

Ranked in U.S.

#33

Alaska

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Ranked in U.S.

#44

Ranked in U.S.

#7

Arizona

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Ranked in U.S.

#36

Ranked in U.S.

#8

Arkansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#20

Ranked in U.S.

#42

California

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Ranked in U.S.

#26

Ranked in U.S.

#2

Colorado

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Ranked in U.S.

#34

Ranked in U.S.

#16

Connecticut

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Ranked in U.S.

#31

Ranked in U.S.

#6

Delaware

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Ranked in U.S.

#3

Ranked in U.S.

#12

Florida

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Ranked in U.S.

#37

Ranked in U.S.

#25

Georgia

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Ranked in U.S.

#23

Ranked in U.S.

#36

Hawaii

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Ranked in U.S.

#1

Ranked in U.S.

#9

Idaho

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Ranked in U.S.

#29

Ranked in U.S.

#19

Illinois

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Ranked in U.S.

#43

Ranked in U.S.

#40

Indiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#42

Ranked in U.S.

#31

Iowa

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Ranked in U.S.

#18

Ranked in U.S.

#26

Kansas

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Ranked in U.S.

#21

Ranked in U.S.

#37

Kentucky

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Ranked in U.S.

#4

Ranked in U.S.

#11

Louisiana

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Ranked in U.S.

#35

Ranked in U.S.

#47

Maine

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Ranked in U.S.

#33

Ranked in U.S.

#44

Maryland

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Ranked in U.S.

#11

Ranked in U.S.

#13

Massachusetts

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Ranked in U.S.

#12

Ranked in U.S.

#23

Michigan

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Ranked in U.S.

#45

Ranked in U.S.

#34

Minnesota

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Ranked in U.S.

#13

Ranked in U.S.

#35

Mississippi

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Ranked in U.S.

#19

Ranked in U.S.

#45

Missouri

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Ranked in U.S.

#25

Ranked in U.S.

#15

Montana

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Ranked in U.S.

#27

Ranked in U.S.

#18

Nebraska

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Ranked in U.S.

#2

Ranked in U.S.

#46

Nevada

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Ranked in U.S.

#9

Ranked in U.S.

#43

New Hampshire

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Ranked in U.S.

#16

Ranked in U.S.

#39

New Jersey

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Ranked in U.S.

#40

Ranked in U.S.

#5

New Mexico

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Ranked in U.S.

#39

Ranked in U.S.

#28

New York

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Ranked in U.S.

#47

Ranked in U.S.

#32

North Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#30

Ranked in U.S.

#48

North Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#6

Ranked in U.S.

#30

Ohio

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Ranked in U.S.

#38

Ranked in U.S.

#38

Oklahoma

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Ranked in U.S.

#46

Ranked in U.S.

#22

Oregon

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Ranked in U.S.

#28

Ranked in U.S.

#3

Pennsylvania

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Ranked in U.S.

#49

Ranked in U.S.

#29

Rhode Island

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Ranked in U.S.

#7

Ranked in U.S.

#27

South Carolina

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Ranked in U.S.

#5

Ranked in U.S.

#24

South Dakota

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Ranked in U.S.

#8

Ranked in U.S.

#41

Tennessee

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Ranked in U.S.

#15

Ranked in U.S.

#14

Texas

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Ranked in U.S.

#50

Ranked in U.S.

#20

Utah

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Ranked in U.S.

#17

Ranked in U.S.

#17

Vermont

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Ranked in U.S.

#24

Ranked in U.S.

#50

Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#22

Ranked in U.S.

#21

Washington

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Ranked in U.S.

#41

Ranked in U.S.

#4

West Virginia

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Ranked in U.S.

#48

Ranked in U.S.

#1

Wisconsin

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Ranked in U.S.

#32

Ranked in U.S.

#49

Wyoming

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Ranked in U.S.

#14

Ranked in U.S.

#10

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