Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 204,000 residents in AUGUSTA, Georgia using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 706-821-4212.
Is AUGUSTA tap water safe to drink?
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 204,000 residents in AUGUSTA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for AUGUSTA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 4.32 ppt, 4317x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 49.2 ppb, 821x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 27.2 ppb, 272x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for AUGUSTA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 53/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.7 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
4.32 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 4317× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
49.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 821× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
27.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 272× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 203× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.7 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 147× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.4 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 62× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.64 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
24.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.22 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 25× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.97 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 20× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.161 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0872 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.483 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.5× over |
| Perfluoropentane sulfonic acid (PFPeS) PFAS |
0.686 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
107.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.04 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.404 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.467 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.658 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.429 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0223 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.425 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0463 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.612 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND CO WS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Richmond County, Georgia. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for AUGUSTA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.