Loading water data...
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 ROME • Updated October 2026
Grade C — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
ROME has a mixed record — read the reasons below; the deductions come from real EPA violations, lead results or PFAS detections, not from a template.
Rome, GA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Rome's water system reports 1,502 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
Rome, GA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Rome's water system reports 1,502 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
ROME's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 1.3 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.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2024-10-01 to 2025-07-07) detected PFBA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
No. EPA's SDWIS shows no violations of any kind for ROME since 2016.
ROME reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 45,586 people (EPA PWSID GA1150002).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
Compare filter options for your Rome tap water
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Rome's UCMR5 sampling.
See the filters matched to Rome's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
ROME · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years.
No violations of any kind on file since 2016.
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 ROME
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes ROME sampled had lead at or below 1.3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 1.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2018-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2015-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 0 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 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2006-01-01 → 2008-12-31 | 0 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 | 2.9 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2001-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2000-01-01 → 2000-12-31 | 2.9 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-13)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-10-01 to 2025-07-07 · 116 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
PFOA and PFOS measured at or above EPA's legal limit in at least one sample. Utilities have until 2029 (2031 under EPA's proposed extension) to comply with the 2024 PFAS rule, so a result above the MCL today is not yet a violation — but it is the number that matters for your health.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 2 / 4 | 17.3 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 1 / 4 | 10.9 | 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 | 3 / 4 | 52.8 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFBA | 1 / 4 | 8.6 | 5 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHpA | 1 / 4 | 6.1 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 3 / 4 | 13.5 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 3 / 4 | 18.8 | 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 → · Best filters for PFAS →
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 Rome will follow up - no obligation.
ROME · 18,320 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
ROME reports 1,502 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (8.2% of the lines it has inventoried). A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID GA1150002 · 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 Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome 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 Rome residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 30161, 30165). 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 Rome 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.
Rome ranks #19 of 27 graded Georgia cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Rome's water, with removal options for each.
Rome, GA tap water is legal to drink but grades C on EPA's records, mainly because of PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Rome's water system reports 1,502 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
ROME's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 1.3 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.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2024-10-01 to 2025-07-07) detected PFBA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFPeA, with PFOA or PFOS at or above the 4 ppt federal MCL. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
No. EPA's SDWIS shows no violations of any kind for ROME since 2016.
ROME reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 45,586 people (EPA PWSID GA1150002).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Rome's UCMR5 sampling.
Most Popular for PFAS
Waterdrop 3-Stage Under-Sink
Lab-tested against PFAS "forever chemicals" — installs under the sink in minutes and costs far less than RO.
Check Price on AmazonCompare direct from Waterdrop
Reverse osmosis systems for PFAS
Reverse osmosis is the most thorough filtration class against PFAS — browse Waterdrop RO systems and check each model’s own tested claims.
Shop Reverse Osmosis Systems →Whole-Home Filtration System
Whole-house system — treats every tap at the source
For consistently poor water, a whole-home system filters every faucet, shower, and appliance — the permanent, install-once fix that goes beyond a single point-of-use filter.
Explore Whole-Home SystemsNot sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Rome water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Rome, GA.
County radon prediction and EPA zone for homes around Rome.
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.