Gwinnett County, GA Water Quality (2026): PFAS & Lead

Gwinnett County, Georgia: drinking water report. Gwinnett County sits northeast of Atlanta, home to about 960,000 residents in one of the most diverse…

Water Quality in Gwinnett County, GA

Gwinnett County sits northeast of Atlanta, home to about 960,000 residents in one of the most diverse counties in the southeastern United States. Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources draws from Lake Lanier, the primary water supply reservoir for the metro Atlanta region. The county operates a state-of-the-art treatment facility and has invested heavily in infrastructure to keep pace with decades of rapid suburban growth.

What the Data Shows

Lake Lanier provides a relatively clean surface water source, though it receives runoff from the growing communities in its watershed. Gwinnett County's F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center has been recognized as one of the most advanced water treatment and reclamation facilities in the Southeast, using membrane bioreactor technology for wastewater treatment before returning cleaned water to Lake Lanier.

UCMR5 data shows low-level PFAS detections in the Gwinnett system. According to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's 2024 monitoring data, PFAS concentrations were below proposed federal MCLs. The county does not have major military installations, so PFAS sources are primarily diffuse – stormwater, consumer products, and upstream wastewater discharges.

What Gwinnett County Residents Should Do

Gwinnett County's water system is well-managed, but the Lake Lanier watershed faces increasing pressure from development across north Georgia.

Check your water for current data in your area. An activated carbon filter addresses taste and disinfection byproducts. For additional PFAS protection, reverse osmosis goes further. Our water filter guide covers both. Pull your detailed report, and see our Georgia page for statewide patterns.