Chattooga County
EPA ID: GA0550000 · 9,190 people served · 4 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Chattooga County (GA0550000): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. Chattooga County's current EPA file includes 1 unresolved violation - every outstanding finding is documented in federal records for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 9,190 residents across its service territory.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Chattooga County Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The Chattooga County serves a community with a median household income of $49,250 and an estimated 44,232 residents across its service area. Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 60% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Chattooga County's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Chattooga County compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 30 detections recorded. 8 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 8 exceed state limits.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Georgia
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Chattooga County (EPA ID: GA0550000) is a community water system in Georgia that serves approximately 9,190 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 2 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 1 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2, 2025 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| November 21, 2024 | Total Coliform | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0015 mg/L | No | N/A |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by GA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Chattooga County (GA0550000) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chattooga County water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current noncompliance record and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does Chattooga County serve?
Chattooga County serves approximately 9,190 people across 4 ZIP codes in Georgia.
Where does Chattooga County get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Chattooga County (GA): 3 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ga0550000/
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title = {{Chattooga County (GA): 3 EPA Violations}},
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ga0550000/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Chattooga County (EPA ID: GA0550000) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.