Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
COLUMBUS
COLUMBUS delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 229,000 residents in COLUMBUS, Georgia using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 706-649-3400.
Is COLUMBUS tap water safe to drink?
COLUMBUS 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 229,000 residents in COLUMBUS, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromoacetic acid. 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 COLUMBUS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for 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.
Contact COLUMBUS
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 COLUMBUS
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
COLUMBUS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Muscogee County, Georgia. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for COLUMBUS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.