Is tap water safe in Berlin?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in Berlin, OH?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 267 ppm (15.6 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 44654?

At 267 ppm, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale buildup and hard-water spotting. Treatment for hardness does not remove all health-related contaminants.

City water profile

Berlin water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Berlin, Ohio.

Median indexed hardness

253PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 238.5–267 PPM

State comparison: 27 PPM above
State hardness rank: #43 of 119
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Berlin has 2 published ZIP profiles across Holmes County. The indexed median is 253 PPM, compared with 226 PPM across Ohio.

Among the 119 Ohiocities with an indexed median, Berlin ranks #43from highest to lowest. Across all 162 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 77.2to 387 PPM.

The 238.5–267 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard2 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 9 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jun 1, 2016 to Apr 1, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Berlin

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

44610

Very Hard

238.5 PPM

Nearest site: 9 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

44654

Very Hard

267 PPM

Nearest site: 5.7 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Berlin Water Company

PWSID OH3800012

Groundwater

System population served: 1,896
Last reported: May 15, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Consumer Confidence Rule	OH3800012	Dec 17, 2025	Unaddressed
Consumer Confidence Rule	OH3800012	Nov 13, 2024	Unaddressed
Consumer Confidence Rule	OH3800012	Sep 27, 2023	Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule	OH3800012	Oct 26, 2022	Unaddressed
Consumer Confidence Rule	OH3800012	Dec 2, 2021	Unaddressed

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Ohio communities

Walnut Creek

Holmes County

269 PPM median

New Lexington

Perry County

240 PPM median

Wellston

Jackson County

240 PPM median

Dover

Tuscarawas County

238 PPM median

Defiance

Defiance County

234 PPM median

Napoleon

Henry County

234 PPM median

Search all 119 Ohio cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Berlin

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 253 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.