When planning a vacation, most people think about choosing the perfect summer destination, safety and how to find the best hotel. However, some details are overlooked, such as the quality of tap water in the city they are visiting.

While most houses in the U.S. don't have to worry about tap water, they are different everywhere. Some cities stand out for their water quality, having better natural resources and following strict standards.

There are multiple cities right in the USA that have some of the cleanest tap water around. Some towns are pretty shocking as well. Where can you go when you want to always have something to drink? Read on to find the cities with the cleanest tap water in the U.S.

UPDATE: 2023/07/12 21:08 EST BY LUANA FERREIRA

The U.S. is famous for its tap water's quality thanks to its regulations. This list has been updated to include more cities with the cleanest waters in the country and information about the regulation.

Related: New York's Most Thrilling Amusement And Water Parks Are Worth A Summer Road Trip

17 Tap Water Regulation In The U.S.

Tap water
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Tap water

Tap water in the United States is regulated primarily by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which is enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The SDWA sets national health-based standards for drinking water quality and establishes a framework for protecting public health from contaminants in drinking water.

The EPA sets standards for a wide range of contaminants and establishes maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) that water systems must meet. Additionally, the EPA requires water systems to monitor and test their water regularly, provide public reports on water quality, and take corrective actions if standards are not met. State and local agencies also play a role in enforcing regulations and ensuring safe drinking water.

16 Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines, IA, USA
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Des Moines, IA, USA

Des Moines, Iowa, takes pride in its tap water, known for its low levels of bacteria and chlorine, making it one of the cleanest in the United States. The water supply for Des Moines, Iowa, primarily comes from two main sources: the Raccoon River and the Des Moines River, which serve as the primary sources of surface water for the city.

Water is collected from these rivers and then treated at the city's water treatment facilities to ensure it meets or exceeds the quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Des Moines Water Works, the utility responsible for water treatment and distribution, follows a comprehensive process to treat the water and ensure its safety before it is supplied to the residents of Des Moines.

15 Eldorado, Colorado

Person holding a glass of water
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Person holding a glass of water

Visitors can find the best tap water in the country in Eldorado, Colorado, which ranks among the world's best five spring waters, according to the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting.

Last year, the city won first place for the first time, claiming the title for the best tap water in the United States, and also earned the esteemed distinction of having the finest water worldwide. The Eldorado Area Water & Sanitation District confirms that the city meets or exceeds all state and federal water quality standards.

14 Independence, Missouri

Person filling a bottle with water
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Person filling a reusable bottle with water

Eldorado is one of much award-winning water within the country. Locals and visitors don't have to think twice before drinking the tap water in Independence, Missouri, which has been classified as one of the world's best tap waters by the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting Competition multiple times.

The water comes from 42 underground wells and exceeds the quality standards, as its ground has low bacteria levels. It undergoes minimal treatment, which consists in adding lime and chlorine. The water is constantly monitored via computer, which helps to maintain its quality.

13 Hamilton, Ohio

Hamilton, Bermuda
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Front Street of Hamilton, Bermuda

Hamilton's tap water is also an international award-winning. The city received a gold medal as the Best Municipal Water in 2023.

The city's water is sourced from the Great Miami Aquifer, a deep underground source known for its naturally filtered and high-quality water. Hamilton Water Department implements robust treatment processes, including disinfection and filtration, to ensure the water meets or exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. The water undergoes regular testing to monitor its quality.

12 New York City

NYC, New York
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New York's cityscape

New York City is one of the most popular spots in the USA, and it is frequently traveled. The city is famous for its skyline ad incredible rooftops, but its tap water also deserves to be praised, as they make sure that they have clean tap water.

Their water comes from the Catskill Mountains reservoirs, and it is clean. It is sweet and full of minerals, and it travels over 125 miles to reach your taps.

11 Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Park in Stevens Point
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Park in Stevens Point

Before water reaches your taps, it has to be tested for cleanliness and safety. While all will pass the test, some pass it better than others, or it would not be safe to drink.

Water in this city is at the top of the list, explains the Huffington Post. It is treated with chlorine, fluoride, and phosphate, and it is pulled from aquifers.

10 Chicago, Illinois

Chicago Skyline
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Aerial view of the Chicago skyline, where Route 66 officially starts

Much like New York City, Chicago is another city that sees a lot of visitors every year and it's an excellent destination during the summer. Plus, they have a large population to take care of. It is a good thing they are on the list with the cleanest water.

The water actually comes from Lake Michigan, and it is filtered through carbon and sand, which ensures that it tastes just as clean as it looks.

9 Denver, Colorado

Outdoor dining in Larimer Square, Denver, CO
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Outdoor dining in Larimer Square, Denver, CO

Denver, Colorado, is known for many things, like its mountains. The rocky mountains run right through it, and that is where they get their water from.

It comes from the snow melt off the Rocky Mountains, and it not only makes clean water, but it makes water that actually tastes good. It has a brisk taste that is mineral and grassy at the same time.

8 Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester NH at dusk
shutterstock: Sean Pavone
An aerial shot of Manchester, NH at dusk

This is some clear and clean-looking water, and that is what you can expect when it comes to water from Manchester, New Hampshire.

The water in Manchester comes from Lake Massabesic, and it is purified with ozone. The Partnership for Safe Water has given this city's water a big thumbs up for top quality.

7 Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins, Colorado
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Fort Collins, Colorado

Colorado is the only state that appears on this list twice, with water from Denver and Fort Collins. It must be due to all those mountains, and it turns out it is.

The water for Fort Collins also comes from the mountain snow melt and the Cache La Poudre River. The water is filtered through coal and is treated with chlorine that makes it incredibly clean and crisp.

6 Greenville, South Carolina

Downtown Greenville
Shutterstock

Drone aerial of the downtown Greenville South Carolina SC skyline at sunrise.

Greenville is a city in the southern part of South Carolina, but they have great-tasting tap water.

The water has been reported to be very smooth when it comes to taste. Where does it come from? Greenville gets its tap water from a 26,000-acre area of the Blue Ridge foothills. This area is as pristine as it gets.

5 Silverdale, Washington

Image of water
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Image of water

Silverdale's water is nothing short of spectacular, and the water comes from Green Mountain. There is an aquifer there that is so pure that rainwater that falls in it can be consumed.

This means that it doesn't need to be treated or filtered at all. You can just scoop your hands in and take a big drink and not have to worry about your safety.

4 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
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The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is unique, and that their supply of tap water does not come from a natural source. The tap water that this city drinks actually comes from six man-made lakes.

It is then filtered and treated with ozone. This tap water actually won awards. In 2007 and 2013, it won a contest that was held by AWWA. That is something to be proud of.

3 Louisville, Kentucky

Sunset over downtown Louisville,  Kentucky as seen from the Ohio River
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Sunset over downtown Louisville,  Kentucky as seen from the Ohio River

Louisville, Kentucky, is the last city on our list. They are known for a lot more than making significant baseball bats. They also have excellent tap water.

The water is filtered through sand and gravel and undergoes hundreds of tests every day to ensure safety and cleanliness. The water comes from the Ohio River, which is impressive considering how dirty it should be.

2 Macon, Georgia

Person filling a glass of water
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Person filling a glass of water

The city of Macon in Georgia has been voted as the Best Tasting Drinking Water in America. The reason is that the city is home to a 5.8 billion gallon lake on 581 acres. The source of water to Macon is the Javors Lucas Lake. Moreover, the Macon Water Authority's water treatment facility is larger than some of Georgia's cities. This means that there is almost no chance of industrial contaminants.

1 Memphis, Tennessee

Mississippi River Park, Memphis, Tennessee
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Mississippi River Park, Memphis, Tennessee

According to the Ground Water Institute director at the University of Memphis, Dr. Jerry L. Anderson, Memphis has the ' Sweetest, most wonderful tasting water in the world.' This is because the water in this city in Tennessee has so few minerals, and as a result, it can be used with little treatment when withdrawing it from the underground.