US Tap Water Quality Rankings 2026: The Best and Worst States
Discover the 2026 US Tap Water Quality Rankings. From the cleanest states like South Carolina to those struggling with aging infrastructure like New York.
One in every 300 Americans gets sick from tap water germs annually. That's at least 1.1 million people suffering from preventable illnesses. It's no wonder that 70% of the population carries concerns about what's actually flowing from their kitchen faucets.
US Tap Water Quality Rankings by State
Researchers at The Kitchn recently analyzed data from the EPA’s Drinking Water Dashboard to rank the states. The analysis focused on regulatory compliance, monitoring oversight, and detected contaminants. Here are the states that came out on top with the cleanest water:
- South Carolina, Hawaii, and Minnesota
- North Dakota, Maryland, and Alabama
- Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and New Hampshire
The Infrastructure Struggle in Lower-Ranked States
On the other end of the spectrum, states like New York, Texas, and Ohio face a 'perfect storm' of aging infrastructure and underfunded systems. While the water is legally safe under federal standards, these states often see higher violation rates and persistent contaminants. It's a localized issue; water quality can vary wildly even between neighboring zip codes.
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