Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Athens, GA tap water
8 contaminants were measured in the Athens, GA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 8
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- TTHM
- Service area
- GA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Athens, GA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 3 sources.
Source
- BEAR CREEK RESERVOIR
- MIDDLE OCONEE RIVER
- NORTH OCONEE RIVER
Treatment
- ATHENS WATER PLANT
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based3 violations on record · most recent Jul 2022resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 0–83.6 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 0–50.5 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Approaching the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.99 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.47–1.28 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.37 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0035 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.086 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.16 mg/LAverageAnnual Average Removal | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Athens, GA's water
+Is Athens, GA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Athens, GA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: TTHM. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Athens, GA tap water?
8 contaminants were measured in Athens, GA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, and metals. 5 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Athens, GA tap water?
One contaminant in Athens, GA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: TTHM (1.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Athens, GA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is TTHM, at 1.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfection byproducts family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Athens, GA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: HAA5. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Athens, GA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Athens, GA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.