Is Atlanta, GA Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Where Does Atlanta Get Its Water?

Atlanta, GA draws its drinking water from surface water sources, primarily the Chattahoochee River. Three water systems serve the city and surrounding areas: the City of Atlanta, DeKalb County, and the City of Hapeville. Together they cover the 25 ZIP codes mapped to this area.

The main treatment facilities include the Hemphill Plant and the Chattahoochee Plant, both operated by Atlanta's water utility, along with the DeKalb County Water Plant serving portions of the region. The Atlanta/Fulton Water Reclamation Center is also part of the broader infrastructure.

Smaller connections link parts of the service area to neighboring systems, including a connection to East Point, ensuring coverage across the metro area.

How Is Atlanta Tap Water Treated?

Atlanta's water goes through conventional treatment steps including coagulation, filtration, and other processes designed to remove particles and contaminants before it reaches your tap. The treatment train is consistent with what large surface-water systems typically use.

Disinfection uses a combination of ozone and free chlorine. Ozone is applied early in the process to break down organic matter and pathogens, and free chlorine is added later to maintain a protective residual through the distribution system to your tap.

Some portions of the service area use no disinfection, likely reflecting finished-water connections or pre-treated supply from a neighboring system rather than raw untreated water delivered directly.

What's in Atlanta Tap Water?

The main concern in Atlanta's tap water is PFBS, a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance. EPA testing found a peak level of 0.0049 micrograms per liter, which is above EPA's health reference level of 0.003 micrograms per liter. Detections were mapped across 23 of the 25 ZIP codes in the dataset, meaning the majority of the service area is affected.

Several other PFAS compounds were also detected, including PFTrDA, HFPO-DA, and 8:2 FTS. All three were detected at or at the reporting limit of 0.005 to 0.007 micrograms per liter, but none exceeded any established guideline. Lithium was also detected across all 25 ZIP codes at up to 9 micrograms per liter, with no guideline exceeded.

PFAS compounds like PFBS are industrial chemicals that can enter surface water through manufacturing discharges, firefighting foam use, and other upstream sources. The Chattahoochee River watershed, like many major river systems in the US, has documented PFAS presence from industrial and municipal sources upstream.

Health Risk Profile for Atlanta

PFBS is above EPA's health reference level in Atlanta's water. The health reference level of 0.003 micrograms per liter is a non-regulatory screening benchmark, not an enforceable federal legal limit, meaning utilities are not in violation of federal law. However, the EPA uses this level to flag potential concern, particularly for long-term exposure.

Infants, pregnant individuals, and people with compromised immune systems are generally considered more sensitive to PFAS exposure. Long-term consumption above health reference levels has been associated in research with effects on the thyroid, liver, and immune system, though the science on PFBS specifically is still developing compared to better-studied PFAS like PFOA and PFOS.

A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 58 (reverse osmosis) or NSF/ANSI P473 is the most effective choice for reducing PFAS in tap water. NSF/ANSI is an independent third-party certification standard, so look for that label on the box or the manufacturer's product page. Either a whole-house system or an under-sink unit with those certifications will address PFBS and the other PFAS detected here.

For chlorine taste or odor, an NSF/ANSI 42 certified carbon filter handles that separately. If you want one system to address both PFAS and chlorine, a reverse osmosis unit certified to NSF/ANSI 58 typically includes a carbon stage and covers both concerns.