Columbia County, Georgia: drinking water report. Columbia County east of Augusta has a population of about 160,000 and is one of Georgia's fastest-growing…
Columbia County east of Augusta has a population of about 160,000 and is one of Georgia's fastest-growing counties. The county draws water from Clarks Hill Lake (also called Strom Thurmond Lake) on the Savannah River and supplements with groundwater wells. The Savannah River Site – a Department of Energy nuclear facility in adjacent Aiken County, South Carolina – sits upstream and across the river from the county's water intake area.
The Savannah River Site produced nuclear materials for the nation's defense program from the 1950s through the 1980s, generating radioactive and chemical waste that has been documented in site groundwater and surface water discharges. According to the DOE's 2024 annual environmental report, tritium releases from SRS into the Savannah River continue, though at levels below EPA drinking water standards at downstream monitoring points. The Savannah River also receives treated wastewater and industrial discharges from Augusta and other upstream communities.
The EPA's UCMR5 data shows low-level PFAS detections in the Columbia County water system. A 2023 Georgia EPD assessment found one public water system in the county with PFAS detections, though below current action levels.
The Savannah River Site's proximity is a unique factor for Columbia County. While current monitoring shows contaminant levels at or below standards, the DOE facility's complex contamination history warrants ongoing attention.
Check your water for the latest monitoring data in your area. For broad-spectrum protection including trace radioactive and industrial contaminants, reverse osmosis is the most effective household option. Our water filter guide explains which systems address the widest range of contaminants. Pull your detailed report for historical trends, and visit our Georgia page for statewide patterns.