Is tap water safe in Kent?

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 Kent, OH?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 192 ppm (11.2 grains per gallon), classified as very hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 44240?

At 192 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

Kent water quality

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

Median indexed hardness

192PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 192–192 PPM

State comparison: 34 PPM below
State hardness rank: #80 of 119
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Kent has 2 published ZIP profiles across Portage County. The indexed median is 192 PPM, compared with 226 PPM across Ohio.

Among the 119 Ohiocities with an indexed median, Kent ranks #80from highest to lowest. Across all 162 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 77.2to 387 PPM.

The 192–192 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: 16.3 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jun 13, 2016 to May 27, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Kent

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

44240

Very Hard

192 PPM

Nearest site: 15.5 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

44243

Very Hard

192 PPM

Nearest site: 16.3 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Kent City Pws

PWSID OH6701812

Groundwater

System population served: 29,662
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
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS	OH6701812	Jul 2, 2025	Resolved

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

Aurora

Portage County

112 PPM median

Ravenna

Portage County

122 PPM median

Streetsboro

Portage County

203 PPM median

Hudson

Summit County

186 PPM median

Clyde

Sandusky County

200 PPM median

Port Clinton

Ottawa County

200 PPM median

Search all 119 Ohio cities →

Questions people ask

About water in Kent

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 192 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.