City of Athens
EPA ID: TX1070005 · 17,934 people served · 2 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Athens (TX1070005): 27 EPA violations in the last five years. While 27 violations did appear in City of Athens's five-year monitoring record, none remain unresolved - the utility has returned to full compliance and continues to serve approximately 17,934 residents under all current EPA drinking water standards.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Athens Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The City of Athens serves a community with a median household income of $64,855 and an estimated 25,768 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 76% 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?
City of Athens'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.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of Athens compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Mercury at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.002 mg/L. Kidney damage, neurological impairment. Consider activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Cadmium at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L. Kidney damage accumulating over lifetime; probable carcinogen. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Contaminant 2110 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L. Leukemia & blood cancers (known carcinogen). Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Selenium at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.05 mg/L. Hair & nail loss, nerve damage, liver & kidney damage. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Chromium at 1 mg/L (total chromium; California Cr-6 MCL = 0.010 mg/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.1 mg/L (total chromium; California Cr-6 MCL = 0.010 mg/L). Stomach & intestinal cancer (known carcinogen). Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Mercury was detected in this water system. activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
City of Athens (EPA ID: TX1070005) is a community water system in Texas that serves approximately 17,934 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 1 community.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 4 resolved, 23 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 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 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| June 25, 2022 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2021 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2021 | Nickel | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Barium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Cadmium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Chromium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Fluoride | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Nitrite | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Mercury | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 1075 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 1085 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 1045 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Selenium | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2036 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2043 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2044 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2046 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2047 | Non-health-based | Archived |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Nickel | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1045 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Mercury | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1075 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 1085 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2031 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2036 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2040 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.00428 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 TX 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 City of Athens (TX1070005) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Athens water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for City of Athens; its 27 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does City of Athens serve?
City of Athens serves approximately 17,934 people across 2 ZIP codes in Texas.
Where does City of Athens get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
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.). City of Athens (TX): 27 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/tx1070005/
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title = {{City of Athens (TX): 27 EPA Violations}},
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/tx1070005/}
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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
City of Athens (EPA ID: TX1070005) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.