What city has the best tasting water in the United States?

There's no single "best" city, as taste is subjective, but recent winners of major taste tests include Columbus, Wisconsin (2024 Great American Water Taste Test) and Bear River, Utah (2025), with cities like Cary, NC, Janesville, WI, and WaterOne (Kansas City, KS) also frequently praised in competitions and by residents, often for their source and treatment methods, like NYC's mountain water or Washington's Lake Tahoe supply.


What state in the US has the best-tasting water?

Utah is officially home to the best-tasting water in the United States. The Bear River Water Conservancy District claimed the Gold Medal at the 26th Annual Great American Water Taste Test (GAWTT), the nation's most prestigious competition for drinking water excellence.

What state has the best drinkable tap water?

There's no single "best" state, as rankings vary by source, but Hawaii, South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Washington consistently appear at the top for water quality, reliability, and strict standards, with Hawaii often cited by U.S. News & World Report for overall quality, while J.D. Power studies highlight Washington and Kentucky for customer satisfaction. States with clean, well-protected sources and rigorous testing, like those in the Northeast (VT, NH) and Midwest (SD, MN, KS), are frequent contenders. 


Which is the best water to drink in the USA?

There's no single "best," but Hawaii, Alabama, and Tennessee often rank high for overall water quality, while Utah's Bear River won a taste test, and states like South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Washington excel in compliance/safety/customer satisfaction, with specific cities like Denver (USAWWA) and Henrico (AWWA) also winning taste awards for their local tap water. The "best" depends on whether you prioritize taste, mineral content, purity, or utility service, with local tap water often being excellent and safe if well-managed. 

Who got the cleanest water in the US?

Hawaii recorded the cleanest tap water with 156.42 water quality violations per 100,000 residents, the best performance across all states.


Santa Ana: Best-Tasting Water in the USA



Which city has the best water quality in the USA?

There's no single "cleanest" city, as rankings vary, but Cary, NC, often tops lists for overall quality, while Eldorado, KS won the best tasting water award, and cities like Memphis, TN, Silverdale, WA, and Oklahoma City, OK consistently rank high due to excellent sources (aquifers, filtration) and treatment. States like Hawaii, Tennessee, and Alabama frequently lead in overall water quality metrics, notes this article from the https://www.facebook.com/cnbc/videos/which-state-in-the-us-has-the-safest-tap-water-the-answer-is-a-bit-murky/1768335803579161/Facebook post by CNBC and this blog post by Leaf Home. 

Who has the worst tap water in the US?

There isn't one single "worst," but recent reports point to New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Louisiana, and West Virginia as states with significant issues like lead, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts, impacting many people, while cities like Pittsburgh, Newark, and Flint often top lists due to aging infrastructure and contamination. Texas, Oklahoma, and California also face concerns with contaminants like arsenic, nitrates, and uranium, often affecting rural areas. 

Who has the best tasting tap water in the US?

There's no single "best" as tastes vary, but Santa Ana, California, Columbus, Wisconsin, Henrico County, Virginia, and cities served by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (like parts of LA/Orange County) consistently win major taste tests like Berkeley Springs and American Water Works Association (AWWA) awards, praised for clarity, lack of odor, and pure source water, with NYC, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco also highly regarded. 


What is the safest bottled water in the USA?

Study: 64% of Bottled Water Is Just Tap Water Most U.S. bottled water—about 64%—comes from the tap. Brands like Sam's Choice and Acadia face criticism for contamination. Safer bets: Gerber Pure, Nestlé Pure Life, and Penta. Tap water is often safer and more regulated.

Which state water is best in the USA?

The following ten states have the best drinking water in the country:
  • Hawaii.
  • Tennessee.
  • Alabama.
  • South Carolina.
  • Massachusetts.
  • Kentucky.
  • Georgia.
  • Florida.


Which city has the best tasting water?

Towns and Cities with the Best Tap Water in the U.S.
  • Emporia, Kansas.
  • Eldorado, Colorado.
  • Independence, Missouri.
  • Memphis, Tennessee.
  • Louisville, Kentucky.
  • St. Paris, Ohio.
  • Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Macon, Georgia.


Where not to drink tap water in the USA?

States with the worst tap water in the U.S.
  • Arizona: Not only is water scarce In Arizona, but a recent study shows that Phoenix tap water has the highest average levels of chromium-6 as well as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) . ...
  • California: Most of the state's poor quality of drinking water comes from the rural areas.


What is the cleanest state in the US?

Hawaii consistently ranks as the cleanest state due to its exceptional air and water quality, driven by clean ocean air and aquifer-sourced water, often topping lists for natural environment and low pollution, with other top contenders for overall environmental quality including Vermont, Massachusetts, and Washington. These states excel in metrics like Air Quality Index (AQI), minimal pollution, strong environmental policies, and access to clean drinking water.
 

Where is the tastiest water?

The best-tasting tap water in the world
  • A new study by AllClear has uncovered the world's best-tasting tap water, as voted by travellers on Reddit.
  • Scotland, Norway and Switzerland are home to the tastiest tap water in Europe, while Canada's British Columbia and the USA's New York City are most delicious in North America.


Can tap water expire?

Tap water doesn't "go bad" like food, but its taste and quality can degrade over time due to absorbing carbon dioxide, losing disinfectant, and potential contamination from containers or airborne particles, so it's best stored in clean, sealed, food-grade containers and replaced every six months for safety and freshness, notes Healthline, CDC, and City of Lawrence, Kansas (.gov).
 

Which state in the United States has the most water?

Michigan has the highest percentage of water area among U.S. states, at 41.5%. Alaska has the largest total water area, while Michigan leads in Great Lakes water area.

Which brands of bottled water are actually tap water?

Many popular bottled water brands, especially those labeled "purified water" like Dasani, Aquafina, LIFEWTR, and Pure Life, are essentially filtered tap water (municipal water) that undergoes reverse osmosis and mineral addition for consistent taste, while brands labeled spring, artesian, or well water come from natural underground sources, like Evian or Flow. The key difference is the source: municipal tap vs. natural spring/well, with "purified" often meaning tap origin.
 


What is the least toxic bottle of water?

Glass Water Bottles - The Top Pick

Glass water bottles are the top choice to reduce exposure. While they're heavier and - of course - breakable, the toxic exposure risk is simply much lower than both BPA-free plastic and stainless steel.

What is the top 5 best drinking water?

There's no single "top 5," as best water depends on taste, minerals, and brand preference, but popular and well-regarded choices often include Fiji (smooth, mineral-rich), Evian (classic French spring water), Smartwater (purified, added electrolytes), Icelandic (pure, neutral), and sometimes Smeraldina or San Pellegrino (mineral taste). Spring waters (like Fiji, Evian, Poland Spring) offer natural minerals, while purified waters (like Smartwater, Aquafina) are consistent but might lack flavor unless enhanced. 

Who has the worst water quality in the US?

There's no single "worst," but studies point to states like Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Arizona, New Jersey, and Florida for high contamination (lead, PFAS, chromium-6, radium) or frequent water violations, often impacting rural or low-income areas due to aging infrastructure, industrial pollution, or natural contaminants, with Flint, MI, Pittsburgh, PA, and cities in Texas often cited for severe, specific issues.
 


What is the cleanest bottled water to drink in the USA?

The "cleanest" bottled water is subjective, but top contenders often cited for purity and quality include Penta (ultra-purified via sound waves), Mountain Valley Spring Water (naturally alkaline, mineral-rich), and Shenandoah Rain (micro-filtered artesian). Many experts suggest looking for brands with transparent sourcing, treatment info, and those offering purified (reverse osmosis/distilled) or natural spring/mineral water, with Gerber Pure and Nestle Pure Life also noted for transparency in past studies. 

What city has the best water quality?

There's no single "best" city, as quality varies and depends on testing, but Santa Ana, CA wins awards for taste, while Cary, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, and Yonkers, NY, rank high in some studies; international contenders include Zermatt (Switzerland), Reykjavik (Iceland), and Munich (Germany), with factors like natural filtration, aquifer sources, and treatment processes making some sources exceptional. 

What city has the most contaminated water?

Get Tap Water You'll Love With LifesSource
  • Newark, NJ. Newark's water supply has been found to contain lead and haloacetic acids, often ranking above the federal action level. ...
  • Flint, MI. ...
  • Pittsburgh, PA. ...
  • Milwaukee, WI. ...
  • Fresno, CA.


What is the #1 water in the world?

The vast majority of water on the Earth's surface, over 96 percent, is saline water in the oceans.

Which states should you not drink tap water?

You can't drink tap water in every state at all times, as quality varies by location and issues like Flint, MI, or California's rural systems show, but generally, states often flagged for significant violations include Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, California, and Michigan, due to contaminants (like lead, PFAS, chromium-6) or infrastructure problems, though the EPA ensures most US water meets standards, requiring filters or bottled water for peace of mind in troubled areas.