Have you ever traveled to a new destination and wondered if the tap water was safe to drink? In the U.S., nine out of 10 people get their tap water from public water systems, which are required to meet strict safe water standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But even if water is safe to drink, its quality can vary from city to city and state to state. Recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked the states with the best drinking water in 2026, focusing on which had the fewest violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Take a look at the 10 states where you can enjoy sipping on the cleanest tap water.

10. Virginia

Virginia has the 10th-best drinking water in the country, according to the findings from U.S. News & World Report, which looked at the Environmental Protection Agency’s weighted point system to track violations of the law, including contaminants and treatment, by public water systems over the last five years. Additionally, Virginia’s state capital, Richmond, received a perfect score from US Water Grade, a separate online resource that compiles water quality reports using EPA-verified data.

9. Georgia

Locals and visitors alike can enjoy crystal-clear water right from the tap in Georgia. While Atlanta received a US Water Grade score of 94 out of 100 (due to minor amounts of PFAs, or human-made forever chemicals, found in some water sources), other Georgia cities such as Macon and Savannah netted perfect water quality scores.

8. Delaware

What Delaware lacks in size it makes up for in clean drinking water. The First State has the eighth-best tap water in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. The capital city of Dover is one of several locations in the state to achieve a perfect water quality score from US Water Grade, along with cities such as Milford and Middletown.

7. California

California is one of America’s largest states by area, so there’s bound to be some variation in water quality throughout its many regions. But on the whole, California has some of the cleanest water around, thanks to the state having some of the strictest and most comprehensive environmental regulations in the country. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Long Beach are just a few of the many cities in the Golden State with spotless water quality records in recent years.

6. Kentucky

From Lexington to Bowling Green, Kentuckians (and those who visit) can count on drinking impeccably clean tap water. The state boasts the sixth-best water in the country. The U.S. News & World Report study also ranked combined air and water quality, for which Kentucky earned top marks, too.

5. South Carolina

South Carolina has some of the most desirable ocean coastline in the nation, though the state is renowned for more than just salty seawater. South Carolina ranks in the top five states when it comes to tap water quality, based on the analysis by U.S. News & World Report of the number of violations against the Safe Drinking Water Act.

4. Alabama

When it comes to the Deep South, no state has better-quality drinking water than Alabama. Some of the cleanest tap water is found in the capital city of Montgomery, which has a perfect drinking water record over the last five years, according to US Water Grade.

3. Tennessee

Alabama’s northern neighbor, Tennessee, ranks third in the country for drinking water quality. The capital city of Nashville achieved a score of 97 out of 100 from US Water Grade, while Memphis boasts a perfect 100 out of 100.

2. Massachusetts

Ranking first in the contiguous United States and second overall for best tap water is Massachusetts. Curiously, the capital city of Boston has a surprisingly low water quality score (77 out of 100 from US Water Grade) — mainly due to contamination from the city’s old lead pipes. But other cities including Worcester, Springfield, Quincy, and Brockton all achieved water quality scores of 97 or higher, lifting the statewide average.

1. Hawaii

Hawaii is an idyllic island paradise by many metrics. Its air quality is among the best in the country, and the state ranks No. 1 in terms of drinking water quality. The capital of Honolulu received an impressive score of 98 out of 100 from US Water Grade, so visitors can sip straight from the tap without worry.

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