ATHENS, Ohio – The City of Athens has released its 2025 Annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report, confirming that the City’s drinking water continues to meet or exceed all state and federal drinking water quality standards while highlighting ongoing investments to protect the community’s water supply.
Every year, public water systems are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide customers with a Consumer Confidence Report detailing the quality of their drinking water, where it comes from, and the steps being taken to ensure its safety. The report reflects the City’s commitment to transparency and responsible stewardship of one of Athens’ most important public resources.
The City of Athens draws its drinking water from a groundwater aquifer that has served the community since 1894. Today, the water system provides approximately 2.5 million gallons of drinking water each day to residents and businesses in Athens, The Plains, and surrounding areas. Because the aquifer is considered vulnerable to contamination, the City continues to invest in groundwater monitoring, wellhead protection, infrastructure improvements, and public education to safeguard the community’s drinking water.
The report shows that routine testing conducted throughout the year found Athens’ drinking water remained in compliance with all applicable EPA drinking water standards. Lead and copper sampling also produced excellent results, with no homes exceeding EPA action levels during the most recent testing cycle.
Throughout 2025, the Water Department continued investing in the City’s water infrastructure by:
- Beginning work on a new production well.
- Replacing windows and doors at the Water Treatment Plant to improve energy efficiency.
- Continuing maintenance and rehabilitation of production wells and storage facilities.
- Installing new distribution system valves and water meters to improve reliability and reduce water loss.
- Repairing water mains and service leaks while continuing updates to the City’s water distribution mapping and backflow prevention programs.
- Completing annual groundwater monitoring, including baseline PFAS sampling.
- The report also highlights the City’s ongoing stormwater protection efforts. During 2025, the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program reviewed development projects, conducted construction site inspections, hosted educational events, organized community clean-up activities, and reached more than 1,000 students and residents with stormwater education programs designed to protect local streams and the Hocking River.
“Providing safe, reliable drinking water is one of the City’s most important responsibilities,” said Steve Adams, Water Treatment Plant Manager. “This report demonstrates our continued commitment to protecting our groundwater resources, maintaining our infrastructure, and delivering high-quality drinking water to every customer we serve.”
Residents are encouraged to read the Consumer Confidence Report to learn more about Athens’ drinking water, water conservation, source water protection, and the work being done each day to maintain a safe and reliable public water system.
The 2025 Annual Drinking Water Consumer Confidence Report is available on the City of Athens website or by contacting the Athens Water Treatment Plant at 740-592-3344.
About the City of Athens Water Department
The City of Athens Water Department operates and maintains the community’s public water system, providing approximately 2.5 million gallons of safe drinking water each day to customers throughout Athens, The Plains, and surrounding areas. Through continuous monitoring, infrastructure improvements, and source water protection efforts, the department is committed to providing reliable, high-quality drinking water while safeguarding the region’s groundwater resources for future generations.
