Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH
NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 74,364 residents in COVINGTON, Georgia using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 770-787-1375.
Is COVINGTON tap water safe to drink?
NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 74,364 residents in COVINGTON, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Arsenic*, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Cadmium*. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH (system ID GA2170004) 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.
Quick actions for COVINGTON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 38.6 ppb, 643x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 40.3 ppb, 268x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 26.7 ppb, 267x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.0783 ppb.
Contact NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Recommended water filters for COVINGTON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 72/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
38.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 643× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 268× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
26.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 267× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.72 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 129× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.4 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 124× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
30.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 77× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
13.6 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 68× over |
| Arsenic* Heavy metal |
0.0783 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 20× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.61 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.118 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.051 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Cadmium* Heavy metal |
0.055 ppb | 0.04 | 5.0 | 5 | 3 | 0.04 | — | 1.4× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
0.097 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
0.097 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Thallium* Heavy metal |
0.0433 ppb | 0.1 | 2.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony* Heavy metal |
0.228 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Beryllium* Heavy metal |
0.0567 ppb | 1.0 | 4.0 | — | — | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
29.9 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.56 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
19.9 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.456 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.35 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.03 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0281 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total)* Heavy metal |
0.377 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Dibromomethane* Other |
0.1 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.802 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite* Inorganic |
0.0015 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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.
NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH service area
This water system serves 1 community in Newton County, Georgia. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for COVINGTON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.