Study Oklahoma has some of the worst tap water quality in the US - Oklahoman.com

Study Oklahoma has some of the worst tap water quality in the US

Oklahoma ranks among worst states for tap water quality, study finds
Christopher Lane II

A recent study conducted by J.D. Power has revealed that Oklahoma's tap water quality ranks among the lowest in the nation in customer feedback.

The purpose of the study was to examine quality and reliability in relation to price, customer service, and water quality violations.

However, the study does not address how many "forever chemicals" like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS chemicals, are in the drinking water consumed in each state. Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.

Federal regulators have recently begun taking unprecedented action in cracking down on PFAS chemicals to ensure safer, higher-quality water for residents.

More: Are water filtration systems an effective way to get rid of PFAS? Here's what a new study says

Study ranks Oklahoma water as 3rd poorest by customer ratings

J.D. Power, a leading market research company, analyzed customer feedback from water utility users to evaluate the quality and reliability of tap water across different states from June 2022 through March 2023.

Unfortunately, Oklahoma ranked at the bottom of the list, receiving a score of 726. The state only fared better than Maryland and Alabama in terms of tap water quality.

The study prioritized six factors - price; conservation; billing and payment; communications; and customer service. Researchers determined the relative importance of each attribute on overall quality and reliability, then applied these importance weights to customer ratings to create a score that ranges from 100 to 1,000 points.

The study also referred to a 2021 study conducted by Oklahoma State University (OSU), which examined water quality violations reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency between August 2018 and November 2020.

Most counties in Oklahoma had a minimal number of violations. However, during the analysis period eight counties, including Pottawatomie and Cherokee, had significantly higher violation counts ranging from 101 to 517.

10 worst states for water quality

- Indiana 756
- Arizona 750
- Mississippi 750
- Ohio 748
- Pennsylvania 748
- Texas 737
- New Mexico 731
- Oklahoma 726
- Maryland 721
- Alabama 701

More: Nearly half of nation's tap water contains PFAS, a new study finds. Americans living in urban areas are most at risk.

10 best states for water quality

Using a 1,000-point scale, Kentucky and Washington State emerged as the top performers, both achieving an impressive score of 808. New York followed closely behind with a score of 801, while Oregon and Kansas secured scores of 796 and 795, respectively.

- Kentucky 808
- Washington 808
- New York 801
- Oregon 796
- Kansas 795
- Massachusetts 793
- Connecticut 789
- Minnesota 788
- Virginia 785
- Hawaii 782

Is Oklahoma City water still drinkable?

Of course. The Environmental Protection Agency reports used for tracking quality don't track forever chemicals at this time, but the data produced and reported by the city track things like lead and arsenic contaminants.

The city’s drinking water meets or surpasses all federal and state standards for quality and safety.

The City’s annual Drinking Water Quality Report, known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), shows that water tested during 2022 met the requirements from the EPA and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

Do I need to worry about forever plastics in Oklahoma water?

Yes - they're everywhere - but experts are working on it.

PFAS are widely used, long-lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Studies show that exposure to some forever chemicals can be harmful. But because there are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products, it is challenging to study and assess the potential human health and environmental risks.

According to a national study from the U.S. Geological Survey nearly half of the tap water in the United States is estimated to have at least one type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance.

In May, the EPA proposed amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These amendments are intended to create new chemical procedural regulations under and improve the efficiency of EPA’s review processes.

The proposal includes five statutory determinations the EPA must make for each new chemicals submission, eliminate eligibility exemptions from the full safety review process for new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other persistent, bioaccumulated, and toxic chemicals, and making chemical notices more clear in their purpose.

For residents with issues, concerns, to report taste or odor, request a water quality test or to provide feedback call (405) 297-3056 or download the MY OKC Utilities app.