Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in COLUMBUS, Georgia
Tap water in COLUMBUS, Georgia receives a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by COLUMBUS. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in COLUMBUS's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving COLUMBUS.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 37.1 ppb, 618x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 31.9 ppb, 319x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 47.3 ppb, 315x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for COLUMBUS (system ID GA2150000) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for COLUMBUS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in COLUMBUS's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in COLUMBUS's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
9.05 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.25 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
37.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 618× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
31.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 319× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 315× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
15.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 153× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.09 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 118× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
34.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 85× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.3 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 82× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.91 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0561 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.8× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.397 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.8× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.069 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
99.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0798 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.41 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.95 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.226 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.22 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
4.05 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
3.88 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.23 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0214 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.55 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0395 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.522 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from COLUMBUS.