Montgomery County, Ohio: drinking water report. Montgomery County is home to Dayton and surrounding communities, with a population of about 540,000.
Montgomery County is home to Dayton and surrounding communities, with a population of about 540,000. The City of Dayton draws its water from the Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer – one of the largest and most productive sole-source aquifers in the country. This gravel aquifer produces naturally filtered groundwater that requires less treatment than surface water, but its shallow depth also makes it vulnerable to surface contamination from industrial and agricultural activities across the Miami Valley.
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, one of the largest and oldest military installations in the country, occupies the eastern portion of Montgomery County. The base has confirmed PFAS contamination from decades of AFFF use, and the Air Force has conducted extensive groundwater sampling in surrounding areas. According to the Ohio EPA's 2024 PFAS monitoring summary, three public water systems in Montgomery County detected PFAS compounds above the new federal MCLs.
The Great Miami Aquifer's productivity means contamination can spread quickly through the gravel substrate. The EPA designated it a sole-source aquifer in 1988, meaning there is no practical alternative supply if it becomes impaired. Industrial solvents from legacy manufacturing operations in Dayton add trichloroethylene and other volatile organic compounds to the contamination picture.
Groundwater-dependent communities need to pay attention to what happens above the aquifer. Dayton's water comes from wellfields along the river corridor, and surface contamination migrates downward relatively fast through the gravel.
Start by checking your water to see current monitoring data for your ZIP code. If PFAS or VOCs show up, reverse osmosis handles both categories. Our water filter guide details which certifications matter for each contaminant type. For historical trends and test results, pull your detailed report. Visit our Ohio page for the statewide view.