PlainWater
States → Georgia

Community Water System · PWS GA2450000

Augusta-Richmond Co WS

Augusta, Georgia 30906 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 204,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

204,000
People served
19
EPA violations
3
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 19 drinking-water violations at Augusta-Richmond Co WS, 16% of them health-based - below the Georgia per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

19
Total EPA violations on record
16%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
204,000
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Augusta-Richmond Co WS

Augusta-Richmond Co WS is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 204,000 residents in Augusta, Georgia (Richmond County) through 78,500 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 19 total violations for this system , of which 3 (16%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 12 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2009.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 9 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 51.2 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Georgia, EPA tracks 2,382 public water systems serving 10,694,477 people, with 108,966 cumulative violations and 12,032 health-based violations on record. About 92% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 45.7 violations. Statewide, 102 of 254 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (40.2%).

Augusta-Richmond Co WS's 19 violations sit below the Georgia average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

7 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
204,000
Total Violations
19
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
78,500
County
Richmond
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
3
Monitoring Violations
12
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 9 2002
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2009
Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 1998
Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 18 of 406 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
8:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/6/2023 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMBA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/6/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/6/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/6/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/6/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/6/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/6/2023 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMBA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/6/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/6/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/6/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/6/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Augusta-Richmond Co WS.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID GA2450000 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Georgia Drinking Water Authority

Georgia EPD, Drinking Water Program is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Augusta-Richmond Co WS under EPA-delegated authority.

Open GA regulator portal

Source: Georgia EPD, Drinking Water Program

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2009 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / GA2450000 / 7000
2005 Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 SDWIS / GA2450000 / 3100
2002 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 9 SDWIS / GA2450000 / 0300
1998 Lead and Copper Rule MR 3 SDWIS / GA2450000 / 5000

How Augusta-Richmond Co WS Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Augusta-Richmond Co WS Georgia avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 19 45.7 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 5.1 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 7 compounds 40.2% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 204,000 4,490 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,382 regulated public water systems in Georgia.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Augusta-Richmond Co WS water safe to drink? ▼
Augusta-Richmond Co WS (PWS ID: GA2450000) has 19 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 204,000 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Augusta-Richmond Co WS serve? ▼
Augusta-Richmond Co WS serves 204,000 people in Augusta, Georgia. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 78,500 service connections.
What type of violations does Augusta-Richmond Co WS have? ▼
Augusta-Richmond Co WS has 19 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 12 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Augusta-Richmond Co WS water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Augusta-Richmond Co WS's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxS, PFOS, PFBS, PFOA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Augusta-Richmond Co WS use? ▼
Augusta-Richmond Co WS uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.