Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT PFAS DETECTED

DeKalb County School District (GA): 1 Health Violation

38 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · 3,193,423 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for DeKalb County School District: 18 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

C · 68
Avg Safety Score (9 ZIP)
38
ZIP Codes
14
Water Systems
101
Violations (5yr) (38 ZIP)
0.0054 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
12
ZIPs with PFAS
Zone 1
Radon Risk (12 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The DeKalb County School District in Georgia spans 38 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 9 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 38 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 3,193,423 across 5 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

The average Home Safety Score under model 4.0.0 across 9 scored ZIP records is C (68/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 60/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 56% nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0054 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0055 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 38 with known status -

PFAS Contamination

PFAS ("forever chemicals") detected in 12 ZIP records in this district. The aggregate does not treat ZIP records without PFAS evidence as tested negatives.

Detected compounds: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFOS, PFOA, PFBA, PFHxS, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS.

Highest measured level: 0.018 µg/L.

PFAS can accumulate in the body over time. Children's higher water intake relative to body weight makes them particularly susceptible. Reverse osmosis filters (NSF/ANSI 58) are the most effective at removing PFAS.

Learn more about PFAS in drinking water →

EPA Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded across 38 ZIP records with known health counts in the past 5 years. 38 of 38 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation. 18 violations remain unresolved.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 69 No 38
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 9 No 4
Arsenic Inorganic 7 No 3
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 7 No 3
Total Coliform Microbiological 3 No 3
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 3 No 3
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 2
E. coli Microbiological 1 Yes 1

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High risk)

5 of 12 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1. The zone is not a building measurement; homes and school buildings should be tested directly.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
30012 Conyers B (71) 18 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30094 Conyers B (75) 15 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30093 Norcross C (60) 12 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30294 Ellenwood B (77) 8 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30315 Atlanta C (64) 5 1 0.0055 mg/L No
30030 Decatur N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30033 Decatur N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30306 Atlanta N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30307 Atlanta N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30316 Atlanta N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30317 Atlanta N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30319 Atlanta N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30324 Atlanta C (66) 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30338 Atlanta N/A 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30350 Atlanta C (66) 2 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30002 Avondale Estates N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30021 Clarkston N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30032 Decatur N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30034 Decatur N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30035 Decatur N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30038 Lithonia N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30039 Snellville C (66) 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30058 Lithonia N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30071 Norcross C (65) 1 0 0.0013 mg/L No
30072 Pine Lake N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30079 Scottdale N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30083 Stone Mountain N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30084 Tucker N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30087 Stone Mountain N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30088 Stone Mountain N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30288 Conley N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30322 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30329 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30340 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30341 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30345 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30346 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No
30360 Atlanta N/A 1 0 0.0055 mg/L No

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Consider a water filter for your home - NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) filters are certified to remove lead. This is especially important for infant formula preparation.
  4. Address PFAS - If PFAS are detected in your area, a reverse osmosis or activated carbon block filter rated NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 can reduce levels significantly.
  5. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  6. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in DeKalb County School District schools?

EPA system-level records associated with DeKalb County School District show 1 health-based violation across 38 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does DeKalb County School District test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Are there PFAS in DeKalb County School District water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in 12 ZIP records associated with this district. ZIP records without PFAS evidence are not counted as tested negatives. PFAS are "forever chemicals" that do not break down and can accumulate in the body. The EPA has set maximum contaminant levels for certain PFAS compounds.

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Georgia → DeKalb County School District

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). DeKalb County School District (GA): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/dekalb-county-school-district-ga/
BibTeX 
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{DeKalb County School District (GA): 1 Health Violation}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/dekalb-county-school-district-ga/}
}
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