Pierce County, Georgia: drinking water report. Pierce County in southeast Georgia has a population of about 20,000, a rural county centered on Blackshear.
Pierce County in southeast Georgia has a population of about 20,000, a rural county centered on Blackshear. Water here comes from the Upper Floridan Aquifer, one of the most productive aquifer systems in the southeastern United States. The Floridan Aquifer produces naturally soft, clear groundwater, but its limestone composition also makes it susceptible to contamination migration from the surface. Agriculture – blueberries, tobacco, and timber – dominates the county's land use.
Agricultural pesticides and fertilizers are the primary water quality concern in Pierce County. According to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's 2024 groundwater monitoring report, nitrate levels in shallow wells across southeast Georgia have been trending upward over the past decade as agricultural intensity has increased. Pierce County sits in the Satilla River watershed, which has documented elevated nutrient levels from farm runoff.
The county's small water systems operate with limited budgets and monitoring capacity. A 2023 Georgia EPD compliance review noted that one community water system in Pierce County had a monitoring violation for failing to complete required testing within the scheduled timeframe. PFAS data is limited – the county's systems were not prioritized for UCMR5 sampling due to population size.
Small-system and private-well communities like those in Pierce County often face monitoring gaps. If you are on a private well, the burden of testing falls entirely on you, and the county's agricultural land use makes baseline testing for nitrate and pesticides worthwhile.
Check your water to see what data exists for your area. For nitrate, reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap is the most reliable solution. Our water filter guide includes options for rural well water. Pull your detailed report for any available historical data, and visit our Georgia page for statewide context.