Water System Report GA

Walker County Water Authority

EPA ID: GA2950003 ยท 36,000 people served ยท 9 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Walker County Water Authority (GA2950003): PFAS sampling above the current EPA limit (UCMR5). With a five-year violation-free history, Walker County Water Authority delivers safe water to 36,000 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

C ยท 64
Avg Safety Score
36,000
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0032 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$204K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Walker County Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$61,250
Median Household Income
100,152
Service Area Population
40%
Disadvantaged Population
64th
Poverty Percentile
76th
Energy Burden Percentile
54%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Walker County Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $61,250 and an estimated 100,152 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: 40% 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.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Walker County Water Authority'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.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
17th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
51th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

46 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
24 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 66% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 48 detections recorded. 12 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 12 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Georgia

Perry
35,493 people
A 0 violations
Statesboro
36,846 people
2 violations
East Point
33,712 people
D 3 violations
2 violations
Thomasville
32,613 people
1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,588
PFAS Treatment $513
Radon Mitigation $250
Total Estimated Cost $2,350

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,350 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Walker County Water Authority (EPA ID: GA2950003) is a community water system in Georgia that serves approximately 36,000 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (64/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 9 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0032 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 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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Walker County Water Authority (GA2950003) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Walker County Water Authority water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Walker County Water Authority in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Walker County Water Authority serve?

Walker County Water Authority serves approximately 36,000 people across 9 ZIP codes in Georgia.

Where does Walker County Water Authority get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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.

Samples collected
290
Detections
33
Latest sample
12/11/2024
Highest analyte
PFBS: 31 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 22 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 12 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 31 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 6.9 ppt โ€” โ€”
6:2 FTS 5.1 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 4.7 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Walker County Water Authority safe to drink?
Walker County Water Authority has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Walker County Water Authority meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Walker County Water Authority serve?
Walker County Water Authority serves approximately 36,000 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is Walker County Water Authority's water source?
Walker County Water Authority draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Walker County Water Authority's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0032 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Walker County Water Authority's service area?
The Walker County Water Authority service area has a median household income of $61,250. EPA EJScreen data classifies 40% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Walker County Water Authority get its water?
Walker County Water Authority'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. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Walker County Water Authority, GA: Serves 36K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ga2950003/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-ga2950003,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Walker County Water Authority, GA: Serves 36K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/ga2950003/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Walker County Water Authority (EPA ID: GA2950003) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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