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Public water system record

Atlanta

Serves Atlanta, South Fulton, Chattahoochee Hills and 7 more places, Fulton County and DeKalb County, GA · 1,089,893 people served

Federal records show 5 health-based violations and 1 monitoring/reporting issue for Atlanta in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) violation.

  • GA1210001
  • ATLANTA
  • GA
  • 1,089,893 served

System profile

Source water Surface water
ZIP 30318
EPA system ID GA1210001

Verify this system on EPA ECHO →

Health-based violations, last 10 years
5
Resolved
5
Unresolved
0
Any acute record
No
Monitoring issues, last 10 years
1

Key facts

  • Atlanta draws water from 1 surface water intake.
  • Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 0.069 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.2 times the limit), 2019.
  • Most recent formal enforcement: signed compliance agreement by Georgia, May 2003.
  • Record on file since 1997, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
  • Lead pipe inventory: 1 lead out of 1 service line.

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Health-based violations

Since October 2016

Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.

Contaminant Rule family Start date Status Acute
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.069 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (1.2 times the limit)
 220 Apr 1, 2019 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.062 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 220 Jan 1, 2019 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.061 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 220 Oct 1, 2018 Resolved No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.062 mg/L, federal limit 0.06 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 220 Jul 1, 2018 Resolved No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.081 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 220 Oct 1, 2017 Resolved No

Monitoring and reporting issues

Since October 2016

Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.

Issue Start date Status
Consumer Confidence Rule
OTHER
 Jul 1, 2024 Resolved

Full record since 1997

EPA's records for Atlanta go back to 1997. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 8 monitoring or reporting violations.

Violations that began in Health-based Monitoring and reporting
1990s 0 1
2000s 0 5
2010 to October 18, 2016 2 2
October 19, 2016 to 2019 5 0
2020s 0 1

Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), began January 2014, Resolved.

Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
Contaminant Start date Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.082 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 Jan 1, 2014 Resolved
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 0.081 mg/L, federal limit 0.08 mg/L (at or just above the limit)
 Apr 1, 2013 Resolved

Enforcement actions

Georgia regulators took 2 formal enforcement actions against Atlanta between 1997 and 2003. The most recent was a signed compliance agreement in May 2003.

Date By Action Violations covered
May 6, 2003 Georgia Signed compliance agreement 1 violation: Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule
Dec 9, 1997 Georgia Compliance order with a penalty 1 violation: Lead and Copper Rule

What the violations mean

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

4 incidents

Haloacetic acid byproducts exceeded the federal limit

Long-term exposure to HAAs may increase cancer risk

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

1 incident

Disinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit

Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk

Where the water comes from

Atlanta draws water from 1 surface water intake. It also buys water from Atlanta-Fulton County Water Resources. 6 other community water systems buy water from Atlanta. 4 other public water systems have emergency connections to Atlanta.

Buys water from

Community systems that buy water from it

Annual water quality report

Atlanta must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.

Systems serving 10,000 or more people must mail or deliver the report to every customer, and from 2027 they must send it twice a year.

Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search

Testing your own water

To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Georgia.

Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells