Free Georgia water report: PFAS & lead levels for every water system, worst-affected cities, and EPA violations. Check your ZIP.
Georgia's water supply divides along a geographic line that runs roughly through the middle of the state. North Georgia relies primarily on surface water – the Chattahoochee River, Lake Lanier, and the Coosa River system serve the Atlanta metro and surrounding communities. South Georgia depends more heavily on groundwater, drawn from the Upper Floridan Aquifer and the Cretaceous aquifer systems that underlie the Coastal Plain. The state's approximately 11.0 million residents are served by about 2,200 public water systems overseen by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD).
Atlanta's water supply has been a source of interstate conflict for decades. The tri-state water war between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida over Chattahoochee River flows has been litigated before the US Supreme Court and remains a defining issue for the region. Lake Lanier, the primary reservoir for metro Atlanta's 6+ million people, was not originally designed as a drinking water supply – it was built by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control and power generation, and the conversion to primary water supply has strained its capacity during drought.
South Georgia faces different pressures. Agricultural irrigation – particularly for peanuts, cotton, and pecans – draws heavily from the same aquifers that supply drinking water. According to Georgia EPD data, some areas in southwest Georgia have seen groundwater levels decline significantly due to combined agricultural and municipal withdrawals.
The EPA's UCMR5 monitoring has detected PFAS at public water systems in Georgia, though the state has seen less widespread contamination than heavily industrialized or military-dense states to the north. The contamination that does exist tends to be concentrated around specific point sources: military installations, airports, and industrial facilities.
Georgia does not currently have state-specific PFAS MCLs. The state follows federal EPA standards, with the 2024 MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS now applying to public water systems. Georgia EPD has not announced plans to adopt stricter state-level thresholds, placing the state in the group that relies entirely on federal regulation for PFAS.
The Savannah River, which forms the eastern border of the state, carries contamination from the Savannah River Site – a Department of Energy nuclear facility in South Carolina. While the primary contamination concern from Savannah River Site is radioactive and chemical waste rather than PFAS, the site's environmental legacy affects downstream water quality for Georgia communities along the river.
Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta in south Georgia is the most documented military PFAS source in the state. The Air Force has confirmed PFAS in groundwater from AFFF use at the base. Moody's location in the Coastal Plain, where groundwater is the primary drinking water source for surrounding communities, makes the contamination particularly consequential. The Department of Defense has been conducting investigation and monitoring at the site.
Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon) near Augusta is another installation under PFAS investigation. The base's proximity to the Savannah River and Augusta's water supply infrastructure adds complexity to the contamination assessment.
Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, one of the largest Air Force maintenance facilities in the country, has been included in the Department of Defense's PFAS investigation program. The base has a long history of industrial operations including aircraft painting, plating, and maintenance that may have involved PFAS-containing materials in addition to AFFF.
Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany have also been flagged for PFAS assessment. Georgia's role as a major military training and operations state means that multiple installations across the state have AFFF use histories that are now being investigated. See our military bases page for the complete list.
Georgia EPD has taken a monitoring-focused approach to PFAS, relying on UCMR5 data and targeted investigations at known source sites rather than establishing a statewide proactive testing program. The agency has coordinated with the Department of Defense on military base investigations and has conducted sampling around other potential PFAS sources including airports and fire training facilities.
Under UCMR5, Georgia's larger public water systems tested for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023 and 2025. Results have shown a geographic pattern similar to other southeastern states: systems near military installations and industrial facilities show the most detections, while systems in rural areas without PFAS point sources generally show lower levels.
According to Georgia EPD's drinking water program, the state has a significant population on private wells – estimated at over 1 million residents, primarily in rural south Georgia and suburban areas outside municipal water service boundaries. These wells are not subject to PFAS testing requirements.
Georgia's legislative response to PFAS has been limited compared to states in the Northeast and Midwest. The state has not passed PFAS-specific legislation addressing testing mandates, cleanup standards, or manufacturer liability. This regulatory posture means Georgia residents depend primarily on federal standards and individual initiative for PFAS protection.
For background on PFAS compounds and health effects, see our PFAS guide.
Georgia's water quality depends on whether you are in the surface-water-dependent north or the groundwater-dependent south, and on your proximity to military or industrial contamination sources.
1. Check your ZIP code at the homepage to see available monitoring data for your water system. We compile UCMR5, EPD, and utility data in one place. 2. If you are near Moody AFB, Robins AFB, Fort Eisenhower, or any other military installation, and particularly if you rely on a private well, PFAS testing is recommended. Certified lab tests cost $200-400. 3. For confirmed PFAS contamination, reverse osmosis is the most effective household treatment. Our water filter guide covers which systems are certified and which are not worth the money. 4. Request a detailed water report for your address to see how your area compares to federal standards and neighboring communities.
Georgia's water quality picture is quieter than states with major PFAS headlines, but that does not mean every community is clear. Check your specific location to see what the data shows for your area.