U.S. City
Rank
Risk Score
Newark, New Jersey
406
320
Midland, Texas
405
290
Trenton City, New Jersey
404
281
Jackson, Mississippi
403
256
Yuma, Arizona
402
255
Surprise, Arizona
401
211
Denver, Colorado
400
199
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
399
197
Gresham, Oregon
398
190
Ogden, Utah
397
189
Portland, Oregon
396
185
Green Bay, Wisconsin
395
159
Temple, Texas
394
143
Peoria, Arizona
393
116
Tyler, Texas
392
112
Kalamazoo, Michigan
391
100
Cincinnati, Ohio
390
95
South Lyon, Michigan
389
95
Laredo, Texas
388
92
Norman, Oklahoma
387
92
West Palm Beach, Florida
386
92
Springfield, Massachusetts
385
87
Gilbert, Arizona
384
87
West Jordan, Utah
383
85
Erie, Pennsylvania
382
84
El Paso, Texas
381
83
Mesa, Arizona
380
81
New Bedford, Massachusetts
379
80
Chandler, Arizona
378
78
Atlanta, Georgia
377
76
Pembroke Pines, Florida
376
74
Warner Robins, Georgia
375
74
Miami Gardens, Florida
374
74
Boston, Massachusetts
373
70
Hialeah, Florida
372
70
Tempe, Arizona
371
68
Racine, Wisconsin
370
66
Washington, District of Columbia
369
65
Mobile, Alabama
368
61
Palm Bay, Florida
367
60
Fort Wayne, Indiana
366
60
Gulfport, Mississippi
365
60
Tacoma, Washington
364
60
Deltona, Florida
363
60
Shreveport, Louisiana
362
57
New York, New York
361
56
Glendale, Arizona
360
55
York, Pennsylvania
359
55
Corpus Christi, Texas
358
53
Idaho Falls, Idaho
357
53
Chicago, Illinois
356
52
Baltimore, Maryland
355
51
Seattle, Washington
354
50
Salt Lake City, Utah
353
50
Syracuse, New York
352
50
Jersey City, New Jersey
351
50
Huntington, West Virginia
350
50
Las Vegas, Nevada
349
48
Colorado Springs, Colorado
348
47
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
347
46
Cambridge, Massachusetts
346
46
Sioux City, Iowa
345
46
Buffalo, New York
344
45
Clearwater, Florida
343
45
Independence, Missouri
342
45
Manteca, California
341
45
Meridian, Idaho
340
44
Boulder, Colorado
339
43
Kingsport, Tennessee
338
43
Los Angeles, California
337
42
Fort Worth, Texas
336
42
Garland, Texas
335
42
Port Arthur, Texas
334
42
Mesquite, Texas
333
42
Las Cruces, New Mexico
332
42
Saginaw, Michigan
331
41
Bloomington, Indiana
330
41
Fargo, North Dakota
329
40
Odessa, Texas
328
40
Leesburg, Florida
327
40
Elizabeth City, New Jersey
326
40
North Charleston, South Carolina
325
40
La Crosse, Wisconsin
324
40
Reading, Pennsylvania
323
39
Bend, Oregon
322
39
Fort Collins, Colorado
321
38
Ft Collins, Colorado
320
38
Mckinney, Texas
319
38
Port St. Lucie, Florida
318
37
Port St Lucie, Florida
317
37
Arlington, Texas
316
37
Miami, Florida
315
36
Tucson, Arizona
314
36
Boise, Idaho
313
36
Hartford, Connecticut
312
35
Roanoke City, Virginia
311
35
Thornton, Colorado
310
35
Arvada, Colorado
309
35
San Antonio, Texas
308
34
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
307
34
Grand Junction, Colorado
306
34
Greeley, Colorado
305
34
Akron, Ohio
304
33
Houston, Texas
303
32
Lubbock, Texas
302
32
Pueblo, Colorado
301
32
Sugar Land, Texas
300
32
Phoenix, Arizona
299
31
Medford, Oregon
298
31
Torrance, California
297
31
Hampton, Virginia
296
31
Richardson, Texas
295
31
Duluth, Minnesota
294
31
Lowell, Massachusetts
293
31
Austin, Texas
292
30
Des Moines, Iowa
291
30
Plano, Texas
290
30
Peoria, Illinois
289
30
Norfolk, Virginia
288
30
College Station, Texas
287
30
Waco, Texas
286
30
Ocala, Florida
285
30
Round Rock, Texas
284
30
Monroe, Louisiana
283
30
Waterloo, Iowa
282
30
Longmont, Colorado
281
30
San Angelo, Texas
280
30
Orlando, Florida
279
28
Tulsa, Oklahoma
278
28
Kissimmee, Florida
277
28
Indianapolis, Indiana
276
27
Scottsdale, Arizona
275
27
Jacksonville, Florida
274
26
Atlantic City, New Jersey
273
26
Carrollton, Texas
272
26
Utica, New York
271
26
Allen, Texas
270
26
Albany, New York
269
25
Salem, Oregon
268
25
Olympia, Washington
267
25
Frisco, Texas
266
25
Grand Prairie, Texas
265
25
Westminster, Colorado
264
25
San Buenaventura, California
263
25
Houma, Louisiana
262
24
League City, Texas
261
24
Avondale, Arizona
260
23
Pearland, Texas
259
23
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
258
23
Edinburg, Texas
257
23
Birmingham, Alabama
256
22
Savannah, Georgia
255
22
Irving, Texas
254
22
Lafayette, Indiana
253
22
Detroit, Michigan
252
21
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
251
21
Columbus, Georgia
250
21
Marysville, Washington
249
21
Macon, Georgia
248
21
Harlingen, Texas
247
21
Rock Hill, South Carolina
246
21
Carmel, Indiana
245
21
Kansas City, Missouri
244
20
New Orleans, Louisiana
243
20
Cape Coral, Florida
242
20
Grand Rapids, Michigan
241
20
Knoxville, Tennessee
240
20
Provo, Utah
239
20
Worcester, Massachusetts
238
20
Poughkeepsie, New York
237
20
Augusta, Georgia
236
20
Davenport, Iowa
235
20
South Bend, Indiana
234
20
Brownsville, Texas
233
20
Portland, Maine
232
20
Yonkers, New York
231
20
Topeka, Kansas
230
20
Olathe, Kansas
229
20
Simi Valley, California
228
20
Fort Smith, Arkansas
227
20
Santa Fe, New Mexico
226
20
Elgin, Illinois
225
20
Lewisville, Texas
224
20
Arden-Arcade, California
223
20
Lakeland, Florida
222
19
Joliet, Illinois
221
19
Abilene, Texas
220
19
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
219
19
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
218
18
Allentown, Pennsylvania
217
18
Lansing, Michigan
216
18
Canton, Ohio
215
18
Amarillo, Texas
214
18
Gainesville, Florida
213
18
Muskegon, Michigan
212
18
Elkhart, Indiana
211
18
Coral Springs, Florida
210
18
Cleveland, Ohio
209
17
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
208
17
Memphis, Tennessee
207
17
Mcallen, Texas
206
17
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
205
17
Denton, Texas
204
17
Hollywood, Florida
203
17
Binghamton, New York
202
17
Warren, Michigan
201
17
Prescott Valley, Arizona
200
17
Nashville, Tennessee
199
16
Richmond City, Virginia
198
16
Albuquerque, New Mexico
197
16
Columbia, South Carolina
196
16
Wichita, Kansas
195
16
Madison, Wisconsin
194
16
Little Rock, Arkansas
193
16
Oxnard, California
192
16
Ann Arbor, Michigan
191
16
Springfield, Missouri
190
16
Tallahassee, Florida
189
16
Bremerton, Washington
188
16
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
187
16
Corona, California
186
16
Beaumont, Texas
185
16
Metairie, Louisiana
184
16
Miramar, Florida
183
16
Panama City, Florida
182
16
Burlington, North Carolina
181
16
Iowa City, Iowa
180
16
Dover, Delaware
179
16
Hillsboro, Oregon
178
16
Davie, Florida
177
16
West Covina, California
176
16
Wichita Falls, Texas
175
16
San Francisco, California
174
15
Minneapolis, Minnesota
173
15
St. Louis, Missouri
172
15
Virginia Beach, Virginia
171
15
Louisville, Kentucky
170
15
Omaha, Nebraska
169
15
Dayton, Ohio
168
15
Rochester, New York
167
15
Charleston, South Carolina
166
15
Bonita Springs, Florida
165
15
Palm Coast, Florida
164
15
Chattanooga, Tennessee
163
15
Spokane, Washington
162
15
Fayetteville, Arkansas
161
15
Henderson, Nevada
160
15
Huntsville, Alabama
159
15
Lincoln, Nebraska
158
15
Rockford, Illinois
157
15
Winter Haven, Florida
156
15
Concord, North Carolina
155
15
North Las Vegas, Nevada
154
15
Chesapeake, Virginia
153
15
Barnstable, Massachusetts
152
15
Kennewick, Washington
151
15
Arlington, Virginia
150
15
Thousand Oaks, California
149
15
North Port, Florida
148
15
Aurora, Illinois
147
15
Clarksville, Tennessee
146
15
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
145
15
Hagerstown, Maryland
144
15
Vancouver,, Washington
143
15
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
142
15
Ft Lauderdale, Florida
141
15
Gainesville, Georgia
140
15
Manchester, New Hampshire
139
15
Champaign, Illinois
138
15
Alexandria, Virginia
137
15
Hayward, California
136
15
Frederick, Maryland
135
15
Palmdale, California
134
15
Sunnyvale, California
133
15
Columbia, Missouri
132
15
Athens, Georgia
131
15
Bloomington, Illinois
130
15
Yakima, Washington
129
15
Kent, Washington
128
15
Bellingham, Washington
127
15
Johnson City, Tennessee
126
15
Lynchburg, Virginia
125
15
Kenosha, Wisconsin
124
15
Billings, Montana
123
15
Yuba City, California
122
15
Rochester, Minnesota
121
15
Coeur D'Alene, Idaho
120
15
St. Cloud, Minnesota
119
15
Pompano Beach, Florida
118
15
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
117
15
Sparks, Nevada
116
15
Renton, Washington
115
15
Holland, Michigan
114
15
Longview, Texas
113
15
Youngstown, Ohio
112
13
Pasadena, Texas
111
13
Newport News, Virginia
110
12
Fullerton, California
109
12
Columbus, Ohio
108
11
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
107
11
Modesto, California
106
11
Lexington, Kentucky
105
11
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
104
11
Evansville, Indiana
103
11
Cary, North Carolina
102
11
Seaside, California
101
11
Everett, Washington
100
11
Charlottesville, Virginia
99
11
Dallas, Texas
98
10
San Diego, California
97
10
Tampa, Florida
96
10
Sarasota, Florida
95
10
Toledo, Ohio
94
10
Santa Clarita, California
93
10
Lafayette, Louisiana
92
10
Montgomery, Alabama
91
10
Vallejo, California
90
10
Lake Charles, Louisiana
89
10
Kansas City, Kansas
88
10
Pomona, California
87
10
Pasadena, California
86
10
Santa Clara, California
85
10
Gilroy, California
84
10
El Monte, California
83
10
San Mateo, California
82
10
Burbank, California
81
10
Tracy, California
80
10
Anchorage, Alaska
79
9
Killeen, Texas
78
9
Fayetteville, North Carolina
77
8
Round Lake Beach, Illinois
76
8
Charlotte, North Carolina
75
7
Pensacola, Florida
74
7
Greensboro, North Carolina
73
7
Downey, California
72
7
Burlington, Vermont
71
7
San Jose, California
70
6
Fresno, California
69
6
Long Beach, California
68
6
Roseville, California
67
6
Orange, California
66
6
Rialto, California
65
6
Oakland, California
64
5
Anaheim, California
63
5
Santa Rosa, California
62
5
Wilmington, North Carolina
61
5
Nashua, New Hampshire
60
5
Fontana, California
59
5
Glendale, California
58
5
Huntington Beach, California
57
5
Spartanburg, South Carolina
56
5
Hemet, California
55
5
Garden Grove, California
54
5
Fredericksburg, Virginia
53
5
Springfield, Illinois
52
5
Fairfield, California
51
5
Santa Maria, California
50
5
East Los Angeles, California
49
5
Texas City, Texas
48
5
Chico, California
47
5
Inglewood, California
46
5
Turlock, California
45
5
El Centro, California
44
4
Durham, North Carolina
43
3
Santa Ana, California
42
3
Raleigh, North Carolina
41
2
Indio, California
40
2
Victorville, California
39
2
Asheville, North Carolina
38
2
Sterling Heights, Michigan
37
2
Salisbury, Maryland
36
2
Irvine, California
35
1
Gastonia, North Carolina
34
1
Lorain, Ohio
33
1
Santa Cruz, California
32
1
Oceanside, California
31
1
Greenville, North Carolina
30
1
Clovis, California
29
1
Sacramento, California
28
0
Bakersfield, California
27
0
Greenville, South Carolina
26
0
Stockton, California
25
0
Riverside, California
24
0
Antioch, California
23
0
Visalia, California
22
0
Hickory, North Carolina
21
0
San Bernardino, California
20
0
Salinas, California
19
0
Ontario, California
18
0
Nampa, Idaho
17
0
High Point, North Carolina
16
0
Elk Grove, California
15
0
Escondido, California
14
0
Naperville, Illinois
13
0
Bellevue, Washington
12
0
Merced, California
11
0
Charleston, West Virginia
10
0
Redding, California
9
0
Carlsbad, California
8
0
Centennial, Colorado
7
0
Jurupa Valley, California
6
0
Jacksonville, North Carolina
5
0
Daly City, California
4
0
Norwalk, California
3
0
Vista, California
2
0
Vacaville, California
1
0
We are trying to determine the cities in the US with the best drinking water. To help us figure out which cities have the best water and which cities have the worst water in the US we have used EPA data to generate a risk score for every city over 100,000 population. Our answer to the question – where is the best tap water in the US – is based on the below metrics. These metrics are an estimate we plan on continuing to refine, but provide some level of quantitative score regarding the best tap water in the US.
The “overall risk score” is our current metric to convert the EPA’s SDWA data into a single metric per city (higher is worse):
25 points for every unaddressed health violation
5 points for every health violation, 1 point for every nonhealth violation in last 10 years
25 points for every lead sample above action level, 5 point for every non-zero lead sample in last 10 years
25 points for every copper sample above action level, 5 point for every non-zero copper sample in last 10 years
Scores for all cities above 100k population.