Q: Do you know where your drinking water comes from? 

A: Dayton’s hidden treasure:  The Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer    The Great Miami Buried Valley Aquifer (GMBVA) is a Sole Source Aquifer. This 1.5 trillion-gallon aquifer provides clean, potable water to over 400,000 people in Montgomery County and stretches across thirteen counties in the Miami Valley.

     This impressive aquifer was formed by the movement of glaciers. The aquifer is comprised of sand and gravel deposits, completely saturated with water. The sand and gravel form a natural filtration system. The aquifer is recharged by the water that seeps into the ground.

     The City of Dayton Department of Water pumps the water from the ground where it is closely monitors before it goes to our water treatment facilities. Once the water reaches the treatment plant it is stored in basins and treated so that large particles fall out. After that, our water is tested 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The water passes through a final sand filter and is then pumped through the distribution system to Dayton’s homes, schools, and businesses.

     As Dayton provides high quality drinking water that meets and exceeds Ohio EPA regulatory requirements to over 400,000 customers, we continue to maintain a regional corporative effort by balancing economic development and drinking water protection.

     Our water supply is naturally beautiful; together, we can keep it that way for the generations to come.

Find out more at:

Link to Ground Water Awareness Video

Link to  Groundwater is Cool

• To learn more on how to protect our aquifer, visit http://www.daytonwater.org/
• To sign-up to help protect our aquifer by cleaning up the Great Miami River, contact Felicia Graham at 333-8595.
• The City of Dayton Department of Water  will offer three tours of their water treatment plant. Participants will learn how water is treated using the latest technology and processes to provide high quality, clean drinking water.   If you are interested in touring the water treatment facility, please use the link below to register:   Water Treatment Plant Tour Reservation  (Space is limited to 10 people per tour).

The City of Dayton Department of Water offers lab services to help customers.   More Information:   Brochure Link

Volunteer Opportunity.   Use the following link to volunteering at  Dayton Children's Water Festival.