Special Report

How Many People Trust the Tap Water in 36 States Plus DC

JamesBrey / E+ via Getty Images

In a world of trendy bottled waters and flashy flavored sips, some states are holding steadfast to a timeless classic: good ol’ tap water. From the lively streets of New York to the sunny shores of California, many Americans are bucking the bottled water craze in varying degrees and happily quaffing straight from the faucet.

To identify the states where the most people drink the tap water, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data provided by J.D. Power’s Utilities Intelligence Report, which was based on responses from 36,833 residential water utility customers nationwide, interviewed between June 2022 and March 2023. The report revealed the percentage of residents in 36 states plus the District of Columbia who always, occasionally, or never drink tap water.  

Heading the list is Kansas, where approximately 58.7% of the population sips tap water on a daily basis without a second thought. Just a step behind, the state of Washington boasts a similar appreciation for the faucet, with 54.9% of its residents making tap water their go-to hydration source. 

Click here to see how many people trust the tap water in 36 states plus D.C.

People avoid drinking tap water due to concerns about quality, taste, and health. Environmental factors, availability of alternatives, and personal preferences may also play a role. Despite water treatment and safety standards, some people remain hesitant to drink what flows from their faucets. Filtration systems and testing can help address their worries. (Read about the companies that are polluting our water the most.)

Access to clean water is limited in many countries around the world, but even in the U.S., water quality is an issue. Contamination from chemical toxins, heavy metals, and microbial pathogens has affected water supplies from coast to coast – as reports from Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, among other cities, have proven. (These are the American cities with the most contaminated water.)

DougVonGausig / iStock via Getty Images

37. Arizona
> Always drink tap water: 22.2%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 39.7% – #18 highest
> Never drink tap water: 38.1% – #2 highest
> Population: 7,276,316

[in-text-ad]

36. Nevada
> Always drink tap water: 22.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 37.8% – #23 highest
> Never drink tap water: 39.5% – #1 highest
> Population: 3,143,991

TrongNguyen / iStock via Getty Images

35. Texas
> Always drink tap water: 23.8%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 43.4% – #7 highest
> Never drink tap water: 32.8% – #4 highest
> Population: 29,527,941

RossHelen / iStock via Getty Images

34. Florida
> Always drink tap water: 25.5%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 40.2% – #16 highest
> Never drink tap water: 34.3% – #3 highest
> Population: 21,781,128

[in-text-ad-2]

OlegAlbinsky / E+ via Getty Images

33. New Jersey
> Always drink tap water: 28.0%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 41.0% – #14 highest
> Never drink tap water: 31.0% – #6 highest
> Population: 9,267,130

usdagov / Flickr

32. Georgia
> Always drink tap water: 28.4%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 44.3% – #6 highest
> Never drink tap water: 27.4% – #9 highest
> Population: 10,799,566

[in-text-ad]

PatrickCivello / iStock via Getty Images

31. California
> Always drink tap water: 29.6%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 37.8% – #23 highest
> Never drink tap water: 32.6% – #5 highest
> Population: 39,237,836

Eifel Kreutz / iStock via Getty Images

30. North Carolina
> Always drink tap water: 30.8%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 41.7% – #11 highest
> Never drink tap water: 27.5% – #8 highest
> Population: 10,551,162

Mikhail Sedov / Getty Images

29. Indiana
> Always drink tap water: 31.3%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 42.8% – #8 highest
> Never drink tap water: 25.9% – #14 highest
> Population: 6,805,985

[in-text-ad-2]

MelissaAnneGalleries / iStock via Getty Images

28. Pennsylvania
> Always drink tap water: 31.6%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 41.9% – #10 highest
> Never drink tap water: 26.5% – #13 highest
> Population: 12,964,056

Zsteves / iStock via Getty Images

27. Oklahoma
> Always drink tap water: 31.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 41.3% – #13 highest
> Never drink tap water: 27.0% – #11 highest
> Population: 3,986,639

[in-text-ad]

26. Tennessee
> Always drink tap water: 32.4%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 46.9% – #2 highest
> Never drink tap water: 20.7% – #22 highest
> Population: 6,975,218

25. Alabama
> Always drink tap water: 32.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 45.5% – #3 highest
> Never drink tap water: 21.9% – #18 highest
> Population: 5,039,877

laflor / Getty Images

24. Maryland
> Always drink tap water: 33.3%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 39.9% – #17 highest
> Never drink tap water: 26.8% – #12 highest
> Population: 6,165,129

[in-text-ad-2]

CampPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

23. New Mexico
> Always drink tap water: 34.1%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 38.0% – #21 highest
> Never drink tap water: 27.9% – #7 highest
> Population: 2,115,877

RiverNorthPhotography / iStock via Getty Images

22. Michigan
> Always drink tap water: 34.5%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 44.4% – #5 highest
> Never drink tap water: 21.1% – #21 highest
> Population: 10,050,811

[in-text-ad]

RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

21. Louisiana
> Always drink tap water: 34.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 38.0% – #21 highest
> Never drink tap water: 27.3% – #10 highest
> Population: 4,624,047

Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images

20. New York
> Always drink tap water: 35.5%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 44.8% – #4 highest
> Never drink tap water: 19.7% – #24 highest
> Population: 19,835,913

uschools / iStock via Getty Images

19. District of Columbia
> Always drink tap water: 36.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 42.0% – #9 highest
> Never drink tap water: 21.3% – #20 highest
> Population: 670,050

[in-text-ad-2]

Ron and Patty Thomas / iStock via Getty Images

18. Ohio
> Always drink tap water: 37.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 39.7% – #18 highest
> Never drink tap water: 22.6% – #16 highest
> Population: 11,780,017

17. Illinois
> Always drink tap water: 38.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 41.4% – #12 highest
> Never drink tap water: 19.9% – #23 highest
> Population: 12,671,469

[in-text-ad]

pinkomelet / Getty Images

16. Virginia
> Always drink tap water: 40.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 37.5% – #25 highest
> Never drink tap water: 21.8% – #19 highest
> Population: 8,642,274

BDphoto / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

15. Delaware
> Always drink tap water: 41.1%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 35.6% – #29 highest
> Never drink tap water: 23.4% – #15 highest
> Population: 1,003,384

Boogich / iStock via Getty Images

14. Colorado
> Always drink tap water: 42.4%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 38.3% – #20 highest
> Never drink tap water: 19.3% – #26 highest
> Population: 5,812,069

[in-text-ad-2]

Ryan Bollard / iStock via Getty Images

13. Connecticut
> Always drink tap water: 44.1%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 37.4% – #26 highest
> Never drink tap water: 18.4% – #27 highest
> Population: 3,605,597

gregobagel / iStock via Getty Images

12. Rhode Island
> Always drink tap water: 46.3%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 31.6% – #36 highest
> Never drink tap water: 22.1% – #17 highest
> Population: 1,095,610

[in-text-ad]

culbertson / iStock via Getty Images

11. Minnesota
> Always drink tap water: 47.4%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 40.6% – #15 highest
> Never drink tap water: 12.0% – #34 highest
> Population: 5,707,390

traveler1116 / iStock via Getty Images

10. Missouri
> Always drink tap water: 47.5%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 36.6% – #27 highest
> Never drink tap water: 15.9% – #29 highest
> Population: 6,168,187

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

9. Massachusetts
> Always drink tap water: 47.6%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 33.0% – #34 highest
> Never drink tap water: 19.4% – #25 highest
> Population: 6,984,723

[in-text-ad-2]

pchoui / iStock via Getty Images

8. New Hampshire
> Always drink tap water: 47.9%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 52.1% – #1 highest
> Never drink tap water: 0.0% – #37 highest
> Population: 1,388,992

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

7. Wisconsin
> Always drink tap water: 49.4%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 34.4% – #31 highest
> Never drink tap water: 16.2% – #28 highest
> Population: 5,895,908

[in-text-ad]

Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

6. Nebraska
> Always drink tap water: 51.2%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 35.0% – #30 highest
> Never drink tap water: 13.8% – #30 highest
> Population: 1,963,692

draganab / iStock via Getty Images

5. Kentucky
> Always drink tap water: 52.2%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 36.1% – #28 highest
> Never drink tap water: 11.7% – #35 highest
> Population: 4,509,394

joshuaraineyphotography / iStock via Getty Images

4. Oregon
> Always drink tap water: 53.8%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 33.2% – #33 highest
> Never drink tap water: 13.0% – #33 highest
> Population: 4,246,155

[in-text-ad-2]

3. Hawaii
> Always drink tap water: 54.4%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 31.8% – #35 highest
> Never drink tap water: 13.8% – #30 highest
> Population: 1,441,553

sonsam / Getty Images

2. Washington
> Always drink tap water: 54.9%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 33.4% – #32 highest
> Never drink tap water: 11.7% – #35 highest
> Population: 7,738,692

[in-text-ad]

wellesenterprises / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

1. Kansas
> Always drink tap water: 58.7%
> Occasionally drink tap water: 28.0% – #37 highest
> Never drink tap water: 13.3% – #32 highest
> Population: 2,934,582

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.