01The verdict: is College Park water safe?
College Park's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B (76/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 20,382 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
10 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 1.2 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓6 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓College Park's drinking water received a grade of B (76 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 20,382 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 1.2 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 10 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 10 remain unresolved.
College Park ranks #215 out of 372 cities in Georgia for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) was detected at 0.14 µg/L in UCMR 3 testing. While below California's 10 µg/L limit and with no federal MCL set, residents sensitive to this contaminant may consider reverse osmosis filtration. The system has seen 6 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in College Park's water
Every contaminant flagged in College Park, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 1.2 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Georgia
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Georgia
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03College Park's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 10 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 10 remain unresolved.
6 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 1.9 ppb since 2000. Latest reading: 1.2 ppb (2025) — 8% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where College Park's water comes from
College Park's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
20,382 people
Residents served across College Park's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 20,382 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| COLLEGE PARK | GA1210002 | 20,382 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near College Park
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence College Park's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on College Park's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 5 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
5 federal disaster declarations on record for Fulton County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
1 National Priorities List site within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
Drought
Fulton County is in D1 (moderate drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How College Park compares
Scores for nearby Georgia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Georgia average (61/100)
College Park scores 76/100 — above the Georgia average of 61/100. It outscores 6 of 10 nearby cities. Full Georgia rankings →
37.2 / 100BMarietta, GA
82.2 / 100BDecatur, GA
84.8 / 100FAlpharetta, GA
41.4 / 100BMorrow, GA
83.6 / 100BCanton, GA
75.6 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in College Park's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
College Park's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for College Park alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is College Park, GA tap water safe to drink?
College Park's water quality earned a grade of B (76/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #215 out of 372 cities tested in Georgia.
What contaminants are in College Park's water?
Lead was measured at 1.2 ppb (90th percentile). 10 violations are on record.
How is College Park's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in College Park?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does College Park's water come from?
College Park's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 20,382 residents.
How does College Park's water compare to other cities?
College Park ranks #215 out of 372 cities in Georgia (better than 42% of state cities) and #9296 out of 15382 cities nationally (40th percentile). The grade of B reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.