Portage County, Ohio: drinking water report. Portage County in northeast Ohio has a population of about 162,000, home to Kent State University and Ravenna.
Portage County in northeast Ohio has a population of about 162,000, home to Kent State University and Ravenna. The county sits on a mix of glacial deposits that create varied groundwater conditions – productive sand-and-gravel aquifers in some areas, tight clay layers in others. The former Ravenna Army Ammunition Plant, which manufactured munitions from World War II through the 1990s, occupies 21,000 acres in the county's southeastern section.
The Ravenna Arsenal is one of the largest formerly used defense sites in Ohio. According to the Ohio EPA's 2024 environmental investigation, the facility's munitions manufacturing and open-burning/open-detonation operations contaminated groundwater with explosives residues (TNT, RDX, HMX), perchlorate, and chlorinated solvents. Multiple contamination plumes have been documented, and some have migrated beyond the property boundary.
The EPA's UCMR5 data shows PFAS detections in water systems across the county. The Ravenna Arsenal used AFFF firefighting foam, adding PFAS to the list of contaminants at the site. A 2024 Ohio EPA report documented PFAS in three county water systems above the state's action level.
Communities near the former Ravenna Arsenal face a multi-contaminant situation that includes explosives residues, solvents, and PFAS. The Army has conducted some residential well testing, but not all areas have been characterized.
Check your water for monitoring data on your system. For the broad range of contaminants associated with munitions sites, reverse osmosis provides the most comprehensive household protection. Our water filter guide covers systems rated for industrial and military contaminants. Pull your detailed report for historical data, and visit our Ohio page for statewide context.