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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 VALDOSTA • Updated October 2026
Grade F — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
VALDOSTA has serious issues in EPA's records: repeated health-based violations, unresolved violations, PFAS above the federal limit or lead near the action level. We recommend filtering drinking water.
Valdosta, GA tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 6 health-based EPA violations in the last five years and PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution.
Valdosta, GA tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 6 health-based EPA violations in the last five years and PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution.
VALDOSTA's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31) was 0 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 (2023-07-17 to 2024-01-30) detected PFBS, 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.
VALDOSTA has 14 violations on file since 2016: 6 health-based in the last five years and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
VALDOSTA reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 48,959 people (EPA PWSID GA1850002).
We recommend one. Reverse osmosis or a PFAS-certified carbon filter addresses the PFAS result.
Compare filter options for your Valdosta tap water
PFOA or PFOS was measured at or above EPA's 4 ppt limit in Valdosta's UCMR5 sampling.
See the filters matched to Valdosta'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.
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VALDOSTA · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-13
EPA records 6 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, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2026-01-01 → 2026-03-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2025-10-01 → 2025-12-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2025-07-01 → 2025-09-30 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2025-04-01 → 2025-06-30 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2025-01-01 → 2025-03-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2025-01-01 → 2025-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2025-03-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2021-07-01 → 2021-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2021-09-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2021-04-01 → 2021-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2021-06-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2018-04-01 → 2018-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2018-06-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2018-01-01 → 2018-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2018-03-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2017-10-01 → 2017-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2017-12-31 |
| Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RLead and Copper Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2023-10-01 | Resolvedreturned 2024-08-26 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to ReportConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2022-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2022-09-02 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to ReportConsumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2016-07-01 | Resolvedreturned 2016-07-05 |
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 VALDOSTA
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31), 90% of the homes VALDOSTA sampled had lead at or below 0 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 → 2026-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 0 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 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2010-01-01 → 2012-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2007-01-01 → 2009-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2004-01-01 → 2006-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2001-01-01 → 2003-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2000-01-01 → 2000-12-31 | 0 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, 2023-07-17 to 2024-01-30 · 58 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 | 1 / 2 | 6.1 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 1 / 2 | 7 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 2 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 2 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 2 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 1 / 2 | 5.8 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 1 / 2 | 3.7 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 1 / 2 | 3.3 | 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 → · 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 Valdosta will follow up - no obligation.
VALDOSTA · 24,003 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
VALDOSTA reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 24,003 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 GA1850002 · See all Georgia lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Groundwater systems draw from wells; naturally occurring arsenic, nitrate, radium and uranium are the readings to watch, along with PFAS near industrial or military sites.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Valdosta 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 Valdosta 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 Valdosta 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 Valdosta residents measured at their own tap (ZIPs 31601, 31602, 31605, 31698). 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 Valdosta 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.
Valdosta ranks #27 of 27 graded Georgia cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Valdosta's water, with removal options for each.
Valdosta, GA tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 6 health-based EPA violations in the last five years and PFOA or PFOS measured at or above the 4 ppt federal limit in 2023–2025 EPA sampling. A certified filter matched to those findings is a reasonable precaution.
VALDOSTA's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2024-01-01 to 2026-12-31) was 0 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 (2023-07-17 to 2024-01-30) detected PFBS, 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.
VALDOSTA has 14 violations on file since 2016: 6 health-based in the last five years and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
VALDOSTA reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 48,959 people (EPA PWSID GA1850002).
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 Valdosta's UCMR5 sampling.
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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.
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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.
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Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Valdosta water quality needs:
Tap water is one piece of the picture — our sister sites cover the rest for Valdosta, GA.
Predicted indoor radon by ZIP vs. the EPA 4 pCi/L action level.
Arsenic and nitrate risk for homes on a well instead of city water.
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.