Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Columbus, GA tap water
16 contaminants were measured in the Columbus, GA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 2 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 16
- Over federal limit
- 2
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- PFOA
- Service area
- GA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Columbus, 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.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (8.5×)PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.1×)PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitPFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Columbus, GA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- LAKE OLIVER
- CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER
Treatment
- COLUMBUS WATER PLANT
- FORT BENNING 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.
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.6–3.76 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 0.07–0.28 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.24–0.98 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.4–0.57 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.16 mg/LReported levelAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | 0.18 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 2RangeSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.4–2RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.02–0.08RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Columbus, GA's water
+Is Columbus, GA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Columbus, GA water utility lists 2 contaminants at or above the federal limit: PFOA and PFOS. 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 Columbus, GA tap water?
16 contaminants were measured in Columbus, GA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), inorganic chemicals, and physical & aggregate. 9 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 Columbus, GA tap water?
2 contaminants in Columbus, GA's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: PFOA (8.5× the limit); PFOS (2.1× 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 Columbus, GA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is PFOA, at 8.5× the federal threshold. It belongs to the pfas ("forever chemicals") family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Columbus, GA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chlorine. 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 Columbus, 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 Columbus, 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.