Show Your Work.
Every document, dataset, test result, and source we've used. Public records, FOIA responses, lab reports, and raw data — all of it, open.
How We Work.
Every factual claim in our reporting is tied to a document, a dataset, or an on-record source. We do not publish claims we cannot support.
We file Freedom of Information Act requests at the federal, state, and local level. When agencies deny or delay, we appeal. When they stonewall, we report that too.
Water samples are collected by trained field reporters and tested by accredited independent laboratories. We do not use utility-provided testing data as our primary source.
Sources are granted anonymity only when they face genuine risk of retaliation and when their information can be corroborated by documents or other sources. We identify the nature of every anonymous source.
Cleveland Water 2025 Water Quality Report
Cleveland Water's annual consumer confidence report. Documents treatment plant performance, lead compliance monitoring (90th percentile: 3.15 ppb), 646 PFAS tests across 29 compounds at four plants, and cyanotoxin monitoring since 2010.
EPA Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Data — Lake Erie
EPA monitoring data on Lake Erie nutrient levels, phosphorus loading, harmful algal bloom frequency, and western basin eutrophication status.
NEORSD Shoreline and Stream Monitoring Data
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's routine sampling results from 15 Lake Erie shoreline locations and 75 sites across 18 streams, covering 30+ chemical and biological parameters.
Private Well Water Quality in Two Northeast Ohio Counties (2009)
Peer-reviewed study of 180 private wells. Total coliform bacteria detected in 45% of samples, generic E. coli in 9%, E. coli O157:H7 DNA in 4%. Published in a peer-reviewed journal.
20 Homes Project — Pre-Installation Water Testing
Our own field testing: water samples collected inside Northeast Ohio homes before any filtration is installed. Tested by an accredited independent laboratory. Results published as they are completed.
Where This Comes From.
Every factual claim in this investigation is tied to a primary source — a public document, a published dataset, a peer-reviewed study, or an on-record interview. We link to everything we can. We describe our methodology. We correct the record when we're wrong.
Something missing from this record?
If you have documents, data, or firsthand knowledge that belongs in this evidence library, tell us. Your identity is protected.