Exceeds EPA Limit Copper EXCEEDS EPA LIMIT

Copper in Athens, GA Drinking Water

Copper data for Athens, Georgia · 130,330 residents · 6 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of Copper in Athens, Georgia: Copper carries a moderate health-risk designation.

Because Copper is associated with health effects at sustained elevated exposures, residents in Athens, Georgia may find it useful that local water systems have returned detectable concentrations - facts that bear on long-term household water decisions.

1.3 mg/L (action level)
EPA action level
Moderate
Health Risk
Reverse Osmosis or NSF 53 Carbon Block
Best Filter Method

Data: EPA SDWIS, CCR Reports, ECHO

Copper in Athens Tap Water

Copper appears in Athens, Georgia records only as an action-level exceedance on record. The EPA logs copper under the CU90 code only at or above the 1.3 mg/L action level and transmits no verified copper concentration. 2 ZIP codes in Athens carry a copper action-level exceedance on record. A ZIP with no copper record has not been shown to be clean: absence means no exceedance was reported, not that copper is safe.

This analysis covers 130,330 residents across 6 ZIP codes in Athens.

Is Copper in Athens Water Safe?

Copper appears here only as an action-level exceedance on record. The EPA records copper under the CU90 code only at or above the 1.3 mg/L action level and transmits no verified copper concentration. A system with no copper record has not been shown to be clean.

If a ZIP in Athens carries a copper exceedance on record, consider installing a reverse osmosis or nsf 53 carbon block filter certified under NSF 53 and testing your water independently.

Health Effects of Copper

  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (short-term, high levels)
  • Liver and kidney damage (long-term)
  • Particularly dangerous for people with Wilson's disease
  • Infants are more sensitive than adults

Health risk severity: Moderate. Governed by the Lead and Copper Rule.

How Copper Gets Into Drinking Water

  • Corrosion of copper household plumbing
  • Acidic (low pH) water accelerates copper leaching
  • New copper pipes leach more than aged ones
  • Mining and industrial discharge (rare for tap water)

What to Do About Copper in Athens Water

  1. Run water for 30-60 seconds before use (flushes stagnant water)
  2. Install an NSF 53 or NSF 58 certified filter
  3. If pH is low, consider a whole-home acid neutralizer
  4. Test first-draw morning water to check actual copper levels

Look for filters certified under NSF 53 for copper removal.

Related

Home → Contaminants → Copper → Georgia → Athens

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Copper in Athens, GA Drinking Water. https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/copper/athens-ga/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-contaminants-copper-athens-ga,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Copper in Athens, GA Drinking Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/copper/athens-ga/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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