Athens, GA: 16 Health Violations - Home Safety 77/100
10 ZIP codes · 15 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Athens: B.
The model grade is high, but the records on this page include findings worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (16 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Athens, GA carries a grade in ZipCheckup's upper tier; any health-based violations on record should be checked per water system.
How Athens Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Athens, GA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Athens's 6 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Athens Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 72 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0049 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.24.
Athens's Water Providers
Federal records list 15 water systems tied to Athens, GA. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 10 ZIP codes in Athens, Georgia (population ~130,330), covering 15 community water systems serving approximately 208,626 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 10 ZIP codes.
6 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 16 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Athens: B (77/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Athens water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0049 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
10 of 10 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 24 | 6 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 23 | 6 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | Radionuclides | 10 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 9 | 2 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 6 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30605 | C | 48 | 4 | Athens-clarke Company Water System |
| 30606 | B | 35 | 5 | Athens-clarke Company Water System |
| 30607 | B | 22 | 13 | Athens-clarke Company Water System |
| 30601 | B | 4 | 3 | Athens-clarke Company Water System |
| 30602 | B | 4 | 3 | Athens-clarke Company Water System |
| 30609 | B | 4 | 3 | Athens-clarke Company Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Athens
- 30601 [B] - 4 violations ⚠
- 30602 [B] - 4 violations ⚠
- 30603
- 30604
- 30605 [C] - 48 violations ⚠
- 30606 [B] - 35 violations ⚠
- 30607 [B] - 22 violations ⚠
- 30608
- 30609 [B] - 4 violations ⚠
- 30612
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Athens Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Athens's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Athens
Low tier for Athens: remediation estimated at up to 1% of what homes are worth.
Estimated remediation costs in Athens can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 27% above the Georgia average.
Athens: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Athens do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Athens: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Athens contains 37 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,642. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $600 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Athens, GA