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Discover which city has the best water quality in each U.S. state. This ranking shows the top-performing city from all 50 states plus Washington D.C., based on EPA data, lead results, PFAS monitoring and EPA compliance records.
Ranking each state by its single best-scoring city, Montgomery, Alabama tops the country at 100/100 (grade A). Across all 39 states plus DC, the best city per state averages 99/100, and 38 states have a city scoring 90 or higher. Regionally, the Northeast leads at 100/100. Find the best-rated city in your state in the ranking below.
Ranked by each state's best-scoring city, Alabama leads the country — Montgomery scores 100/100 (grade A) on our EPA-based scale. The table below lists the #1 city in all 39 states plus DC so you can see where every state's best water ranks nationally.
Every city we track is scored from EPA records — health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violations in the last five years, the latest Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile result, PFAS detected in EPA’s 2023–2026 UCMR5 monitoring, and 2012–2019 compliance samples near a limit. Each state’s highest-scoring city (ties broken by the larger water system) becomes that state’s winner.
Averaging each state’s best city by region, the Northeast ranks first at 100/100, followed by the Southeast at 100/100. Regional strength tends to track protected source water, modern treatment infrastructure, and strong state-level environmental regulation.
Average score of the best city in each state, grouped by region
The city with the best water quality in each state, ranked nationally. Click any city or state to see detailed water quality data.
Click any state to see the top 20 cities with the best water quality
Best 50 cities across all states
Cities with lowest contamination levels
Cities with perfect EPA compliance
Low lead, low nitrates - safe for kids
Rankings by population category
Cities with most concerns