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Water quality ranked city-by-city: these are the US cities with the cleanest, safest tap water, based on EPA contaminant data, compliance records, and infrastructure quality. Every city on this list scores 80 or higher, indicating excellent tap water safety.
Quick answer: As of 2026, the US cities with the best tap water quality are Payson, AZ, Anaheim, CA, Romeoville, IL, Cumberland, MD and Pine Bluff, AR — each scoring 97/100 or higher with Grade A water, minimal contaminants, and clean EPA compliance records. See the full top-50 ranking below.
The 10 US cities with the best-rated tap water, ranked by EPA-based water-quality score. Tap a city for its full contaminant report.
Want the full picture? See the complete top 50 city ranking below.
What "best water quality" means here, and how each city earns its score.
"Best water quality" isn't a matter of taste or marketing — on this site it means measurable tap water safety. Every city is scored on a 100-point scale built from public U.S. EPA records for its community water systems, then assigned a letter grade so you can compare places at a glance. A higher score means fewer detected contaminants and a stronger compliance history, not simply "good-tasting" water.
Scores are derived from EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) data: the contaminants a utility detected in its testing, how those levels compare with EPA limits, and whether the system had Safe Drinking Water Act violations. Cities with low detected contaminant levels and clean compliance histories rise to the top of the ranking. Learn more about the specific pollutants we track on our common contaminants guide.
Each 100-point score maps to a letter grade (A through F) so the ranking is easy to scan. The cities on this page all grade in the top tier, meaning their utility-wide data shows minimal contamination and strong EPA compliance. For a full breakdown of inputs and weighting, see our ranking methodology.
One important limit: these grades describe the water a utility delivers to the distribution system, not the water at your specific faucet. Lead and other metals can enter from household plumbing after the water leaves the treatment plant, so even a top-ranked city is a starting point, not a guarantee for your home. To see where a city falls short instead, compare against the worst water quality rankings.
States ranked by the average water-quality score of every city we track (states with at least three tracked cities). Click a state for its full city-by-city ranking.
These scores come from utility-wide EPA compliance data — they describe the water leaving the treatment plant, not the water arriving at your kitchen sink. Testing your own tap is the only way to know what you're drinking, and it tells you which filter (if any) you actually need.
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Click any city to see detailed water quality report including contaminants, violations, and filter recommendations.
| Rank | City | State | Score | Grade | Population Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Payson | Arizona | 98/100 | A+ | 15,929 |
| #2 | Anaheim | California | 98/100 | A+ | 346,824 |
| #3 | Romeoville | Illinois | 98/100 | A+ | 39,983 |
| #4 | Cumberland | Maryland | 98/100 | A+ | 19,495 |
| #5 | Pine Bluff | Arkansas | 97/100 | A+ | 41,253 |
| #6 | Palm Desert | California | 97/100 | A+ | 51,988 |
| #7 | San Clemente | California | 97/100 | A+ | 65,040 |
| #8 | West Haven | Connecticut | 97/100 | A+ | 54,666 |
| #9 | Naperville | Illinois | 97/100 | A+ | 149,013 |
| #10 | Greenwood | Indiana | 97/100 | A+ | 63,830 |
| #11 | Salina | Kansas | 97/100 | A+ | 46,994 |
| #12 | Radcliff | Kentucky | 97/100 | A+ | 24,046 |
| #13 | El Paso | Texas | 97/100 | A+ | 1,821 |
| #14 | Prichard | Alabama | 96/100 | A+ | 19,322 |
| #15 | Hanford | California | 96/100 | A+ | 57,232 |
| #16 | Inglewood | California | 96/100 | A+ | 109,398 |
| #17 | Lodi | California | 96/100 | A+ | 67,539 |
| #18 | Monterey Park | California | 96/100 | A+ | 60,105 |
| #19 | San Diego | California | 96/100 | A+ | 1,386,932 |
| #20 | Santa Barbara | California | 96/100 | A+ | 88,665 |
| #21 | Simi Valley | California | 96/100 | A+ | 126,181 |
| #22 | Longmont | Colorado | 96/100 | A+ | 98,885 |
| #23 | Dunedin | Florida | 96/100 | A+ | 36,068 |
| #24 | Lakeland | Florida | 96/100 | A+ | 112,641 |
| #25 | Miami Beach | Florida | 96/100 | A+ | 92,307 |
| #26 | Alpharetta | Georgia | 96/100 | A+ | 65,818 |
| #27 | Statesboro | Georgia | 96/100 | A+ | 33,438 |
| #28 | Council Bluffs | Iowa | 96/100 | A+ | 62,799 |
| #29 | Mason City | Iowa | 96/100 | A+ | 27,338 |
| #30 | West Des Moines | Iowa | 96/100 | A+ | 68,723 |
| #31 | Peoria | Illinois | 96/100 | A+ | 113,150 |
| #32 | Franklin | Indiana | 96/100 | A+ | 26,211 |
| #33 | Ashland | Kentucky | 96/100 | A+ | 21,625 |
| #34 | Hammond | Louisiana | 96/100 | A+ | 21,359 |
| #35 | Everett | Massachusetts | 96/100 | A+ | 49,075 |
| #36 | Framingham | Massachusetts | 96/100 | A+ | 72,362 |
| #37 | Lowell | Massachusetts | 96/100 | A+ | 115,554 |
| #38 | Taunton | Massachusetts | 96/100 | A+ | 59,408 |
| #39 | Weymouth Town | Massachusetts | 96/100 | A+ | 57,213 |
| #40 | Enterprise | Alabama | 95/100 | A+ | 28,711 |
| #41 | Montgomery | Alabama | 95/100 | A+ | 200,603 |
| #42 | Paragould | Arkansas | 95/100 | A+ | 29,908 |
| #43 | West Memphis | Arkansas | 95/100 | A+ | 24,656 |
| #44 | Bullhead City | Arizona | 95/100 | A+ | 41,348 |
| #45 | Chandler | Arizona | 95/100 | A+ | 275,987 |
| #46 | San Luis | Arizona | 95/100 | A+ | 35,257 |
| #47 | Show Low | Arizona | 95/100 | A+ | 11,229 |
| #48 | Laguna Hills | California | 95/100 | A+ | 31,573 |
| #49 | Yorba Linda | California | 95/100 | A+ | 68,103 |
| #50 | Steamboat Springs | Colorado | 95/100 | A+ | 13,932 |
Cities with the best water quality share several common characteristics:
All detected contaminants are well below EPA maximum limits. Most have no concerning levels of lead, arsenic, or disinfection byproducts.
These cities have few or no EPA violations, demonstrating consistent adherence to Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Investment in treatment facilities, distribution systems, and regular maintenance ensures water stays clean from source to tap.
Quality source water from protected aquifers, reservoirs, or rivers with minimal agricultural or industrial contamination upstream.
Even in cities with excellent water quality, many residents choose to use water filters for:
A top-tier grade means the utility's reported data is clean, but home plumbing can still add lead or copper. A simple carbon or pitcher filter is usually enough for taste and peace of mind. Read our guide to lead in tap water if you live in an older home.
Not appearing in the top 50 doesn't mean unsafe water — it just means other cities scored higher. Look up your own city's full report by browsing by state or comparing two cities side by side.
The only way to know exactly what's in your water is to test it, then choose a filter matched to what you find. See our water filter comparison to match a filter type to your results.
Shopping for a specific household? Our safest cities for children ranking prioritizes low lead and nitrate levels, and the cleanest tap water list ranks cities purely on overall contamination.
Based on the latest EPA SDWIS data, Payson, Arizona currently has the best tap water quality in our rankings, scoring 98/100. The full top five are Payson, AZ, Anaheim, CA, Romeoville, IL, Cumberland, MD and Pine Bluff, AR — each earns a Grade A score for low contaminant levels, strong EPA compliance, and clean source water. Rankings update as new testing data is released, so check the table below for the current list.
Cities with the best water quality share these characteristics: 1) Protected source water (clean aquifers or reservoirs), 2) Modern treatment facilities with advanced filtration, 3) Well-maintained distribution systems without lead pipes, 4) Excellent EPA compliance with no violations, 5) Low levels of all tested contaminants well below EPA limits.
Even in cities with excellent water quality, some residents choose filters for: 1) Removing chlorine taste and odor, 2) Protection from lead that may come from home plumbing (not the city supply), 3) Extra safety for vulnerable populations (pregnant women, infants), 4) Peace of mind. However, a filter is less essential in top-rated cities.
Ranking every state by the average EPA-based water-quality score of the cities we track, the states with the best water quality are Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Utah and Washington. These states combine protected source water, strong environmental regulations, and modern treatment infrastructure, so their cities consistently score high with few contaminant violations. See the full state ranking below.
Most US tap water from public water systems meets EPA safety standards and is safe to drink. However, quality varies significantly by location. Cities in our top 50 have water that exceeds EPA requirements with minimal contamination. Cities with lower scores may have elevated contaminant levels where filtration is recommended.