Ray City, GA Water Safety: 95/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Ray City, EPA monitoring data shows low violation rates and healthy safety margins — a pattern that places the city well above GA's average for drinking water compliance across recent reporting cycles.
How Ray City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Ray City Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 36% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 15.86 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Ray City
At present, 3 utilities serve the bulk of Ray City, GA's residential water connections out of 3 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ray City, Georgia, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 4,971 people.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Ray City — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ray City: A (95/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Ray City water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31645 | A | Ray City | 1,345 |
All ZIP Codes in Ray City
- 31645 [A]
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Ray City
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
How Old Is Ray City's Housing Stock?
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
With a median build year of 1996, Ray City's housing stock reflects a city built across multiple eras. A substantial share of homes predate 1986 — the year lead solder in plumbing was federally banned — meaning the risk from plumbing materials is unevenly distributed across the city's neighborhoods and property types.
Most homes in Ray City were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Ray City: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Remediation costs in Ray City represent a moderate share of typical home values — worth budgeting for carefully, though within reach for most homeowners who plan ahead.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Ray City. The estimated $1,200–$2,500 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 45% below the Georgia average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Ray City
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
When older housing represents 36% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Ray City address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Ray City
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Ray City, that record documents 1 claim and 100% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Ray City has a moderate flood history with 1 FEMA claims. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Ray City, GA