Atlanta
EPA ID: GA1210001 · 1,089,893 people served · 115 ZIP codes
Per EPA records, Atlanta: 3 unresolved violations, 1,089,893 people in service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 18 (2021) to 8 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Atlanta Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Atlanta serves a community with a median household income of $83,239 and an estimated 1,513,314 residents across its service area. Approximately 50% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 31% 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?
Atlanta's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in DeKalb County, Georgia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Atlanta compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Arsenic at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Lead and Copper 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. 164 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
ATLANTA (EPA ID: GA1210001) is a community water system in Georgia that serves approximately 1,089,893 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 115 ZIP codes across 14 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 23, 2023 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Arsenic | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 2 | No |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30092 | 0.0045 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30301 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30302 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30303 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30304 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30305 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30306 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30307 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30308 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30309 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30310 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30311 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30312 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30313 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30314 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30315 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30316 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30317 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30318 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30319 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
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: 41 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 74 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 115 ZIP codes:
30030 · 30033 · 30039 · 30047 · 30078 30084 · 30085 · 30086 · 30092 · 30213 30214 · 30268 · 30272 · 30291 · 30296 30297 · 30301 · 30302 · 30303 · 30304 30305 · 30306 · 30307 · 30308 · 30309 30310 · 30311 · 30312 · 30313 · 30314 30315 · 30316 · 30317 · 30318 · 30319 30320 · 30321 · 30322 · 30324 · 30325 30326 · 30327 · 30328 · 30329 · 30330 30331 · 30332 · 30333 · 30334 · 30336 30337 · 30338 · 30339 · 30340 · 30341 30342 · 30343 · 30344 · 30345 · 30346 30348 · 30349 · 30350 · 30353 · 30354 30355 · 30356 · 30357 · 30358 · 30359 30360 · 30361 · 30362 · 30363 · 30364 30366 · 30368 · 30369 · 30370 · 30371 30374 · 30375 · 30376 · 30377 · 30378 30380 · 30384 · 30385 · 30386 · 30387 30388 · 30392 · 30394 · 30396 · 30398 31106 · 31107 · 31119 · 31120 · 31126 31131 · 31136 · 31139 · 31141 · 31145 31146 · 31150 · 31156 · 31192 · 31193 31195 · 31196 · 31198 · 31199 · 39901
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Atlanta (GA1210001) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atlanta water safe to drink?
Atlanta has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Atlanta serve?
Atlanta serves approximately 1,089,893 people across 115 ZIP codes in Georgia.
Where does Atlanta get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below 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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #19 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Georgia)
Frequently Asked Questions
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
Atlanta (EPA ID: GA1210001) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.