Is Athens tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Athens's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

82/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
1.5 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Athens

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Athens

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Athens
Georgia

306,013,060,530,606 · North Oconee River and Bear Creek Reservoir

Athens, GA Water Quality Report

Low Risk Updated March 2026 127,315 residents
See Best Filters for Athens
82
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
1.8 ppb
Nitrate
0.4 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
1.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Athens's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Athens tap water is sourced from North Oconee River and Bear Creek Reservoir and treated by Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Athens's 2 issues.

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PFAS in AthensForever chemicals
Lead in AthensLead risk
Athens Hard WaterHardness data
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Athens Water FAQ

Is Athens GA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Athens tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 82/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Athens GA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Athens uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.3 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Athens GA water and what is the TDS level?
Athens water hardness is 1.5 grains per gallon (soft) with a TDS of 50 ppm (excellent). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Athens GA drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Athens drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Athens?
Based on Athens's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Athens has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

Sandy SpringsGeorgia — 67/100AtlantaGeorgia — 67/100SavannahGeorgia — 82/100AugustaGeorgia — 82/100ColumbusGeorgia — 82/100MaconGeorgia — 82/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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