Augusta-richmond Company Ws
EPA ID: GA2450000 · 204,000 people served · 19 ZIP codes
While 15 violations did appear in Augusta-richmond Company Ws's five-year monitoring record, none remain unresolved — the utility has returned to full compliance and continues to serve approximately 204,000 residents under all current EPA drinking water standards.
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 2 (2021) to 5 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Augusta-richmond Company Ws Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Augusta-richmond Company Ws serves a community with a median household income of $65,583 and an estimated 301,580 residents across its service area. Approximately 54% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 52% 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?
Augusta-richmond Company Ws'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 Columbia County, Georgia rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 74th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Augusta-richmond Company Ws compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Stage 1 DBP 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. 32 detections recorded. 12 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
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS (EPA ID: GA2450000) is a community water system in Georgia that serves approximately 204,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 19 ZIP codes across 5 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (74/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 5 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30901 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30903 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30904 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30906 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30907 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30909 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30911 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30912 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30913 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30914 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30916 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30917 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30919 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 30999 | 0.0014 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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: 8 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 11 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.
- 30802 — Appling
- 30812 — Gracewood
- 30813 — Grovetown
- 30815 — Hephzibah
- 30901 — Augusta
- 30903 — Augusta
- 30904 — Augusta
- 30905 — Augusta
- 30906 — Augusta
- 30907 — Augusta
- 30909 — Augusta
- 30911 — Augusta
- 30912 — Augusta
- 30913 — Augusta
- 30914 — Augusta
- 30916 — Augusta
- 30917 — Augusta
- 30919 — Augusta
- 30999 — Augusta
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Augusta-richmond Company Ws (GA2450000) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Augusta-richmond Company Ws water safe to drink?
Augusta-richmond Company Ws has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Augusta-richmond Company Ws serve?
Augusta-richmond Company Ws serves approximately 204,000 people across 19 ZIP codes in Georgia.
Where does Augusta-richmond Company Ws get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Augusta Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Augusta Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
According to this sensitivity matrix, over half of the potential sources in the study area were ranked as low priority. The overall intake sensitivity was determined to be low. Biological contaminants were not found in source water samples collected as part of the Information Collection Rule (ICR).
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Augusta Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
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 →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Augusta Utilities.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.
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.
Aesthetic water quality
These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.
Aesthetic measurements from Augusta Utilities Consumer Confidence Report.
Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- Hurricane Helen impacted infrastructure and team resilience.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
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.
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
Augusta-richmond Company Ws (EPA ID: GA2450000) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.