Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026

NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH

Serving 74,364 residents in COVINGTON, Georgia .

National rank 56th percentile
Georgia rank 52th percentile
Data confidence Medium
Quick answer

NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH delivers tap water graded C (65/100) 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.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?
74,364
People served
1
City served
28
Contaminants detected
12
Above health guidelines
0
EPA violations (5 yr)

Is COVINGTON tap water safe to drink?

NEWTON CO. WATER-SEWERAGE AUTH delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (65/100) 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.

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 concern

Haloacetic 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 concern

Total 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 concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 26.7 ppb, 267x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Arsenic detected

Moderate concern

Arsenic 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.

Recommended water filters for COVINGTON

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

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 65/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →

Health Guideline Performance
10 / 40
Legal Compliance
20 / 20
High-Risk Contaminants
18 / 20
Compliance History
10 / 10
Source Water Vulnerability
7 / 10

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.

About this water system

Public Water System ID
GA2170004
Owner type
Local government
Source water
Surface water (purchased)
Service connections
26,832
Service area
COVINGTON, Newton County, Georgia