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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM • Updated October 2026
Grade B — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM is in good standing with EPA, with only minor deductions for monitoring paperwork, low-level PFAS or historical readings near a limit.
Yes — by EPA's records Athens, GA tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Athens, GA tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 3.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM (2024-11-13 to 2025-08-20) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM has 4 violations on file since 2016: 2 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 125,000 people (EPA PWSID GA0590000).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
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ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM has 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
See the filters matched to Athens's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
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ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records 2 health-based violations for this system in the last five years, all of which are marked resolved or archived. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2022-07-01 → 2022-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-09-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2022-01-01 → 2022-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-03-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2021-07-01 → 2021-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2021-09-30 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to ReportConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2021-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2021-08-26 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31), 90% of the homes ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM sampled had lead at or below 3.5 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 3.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2016-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 1.7 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 3.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2012-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2009-01-01 → 2011-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2006-01-01 → 2008-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2003-01-01 → 2005-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2002-12-31 | 4.6 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2001-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 3.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2000-01-01 → 2000-12-31 | 9.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-11-13 to 2025-08-20 · 116 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 4 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 4 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 4 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Athens will follow up - no obligation.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM · 42,371 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 42,371 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID GA0590000 · See all Georgia lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Athens homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Athens faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Athens households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Athens residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 30601, 30602, 30605, 30606 +4 more). All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Athens yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Athens ranks #18 of 27 graded Georgia cities.
Yes — by EPA's records Athens, GA tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31) was 3.5 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 116 UCMR5 PFAS results for ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM (2024-11-13 to 2025-08-20) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM has 4 violations on file since 2016: 2 health-based in the last five years and 0 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 125,000 people (EPA PWSID GA0590000).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
ATHENS-CLARKE CO WATER SYSTEM has 2 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
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