Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Atlanta, GA tap water
13 contaminants were measured in the Atlanta, GA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 3 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 13
- Over federal limit
- 3
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- Copper
- Service area
- GA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
4 PFAS compounds detected in Atlanta, GA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Atlanta, GA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER
Treatment
- CHATTAHOOCHEE PLANT
- HEMPHILL PLANT
Distribution
Also buys water from ATLANTA-FULTON COUNTY WATER RESOURCES.
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 90 mg/LReported levelResult Description | 1.3 mg/LAction level | At or above the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 90 ug/LReported levelResult Description | 15 ug/LAction level | At or above the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 14.4–95.8 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 80 ug/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 15.4–42 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | 60 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0–2.07 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.49–0.82 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.7 %Reported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.1–1.8 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.01–0.6 NTURangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Atlanta, GA's water
+Is Atlanta, GA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Atlanta, GA water utility lists 3 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Copper, Lead, and 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 Atlanta, GA tap water?
13 contaminants were measured in Atlanta, GA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), disinfection byproducts, and metals. 6 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 Atlanta, GA tap water?
3 contaminants in Atlanta, GA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Copper (69.2× the limit); Lead (6.0× the limit); TTHM (1.2× 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 Atlanta, GA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Copper, at 69.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the metals family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Atlanta, 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 Atlanta, 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.