01The verdict: is Mount Berry water safe?
Mount Berry's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (85.1/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,200 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
2 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 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation 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 ↓Mount Berry's drinking water received a grade of A- (85.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,200 residents using surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Mount Berry ranks #103 out of 372 cities in Georgia for water quality, placing it mid-range 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. As a small community water system, Mount Berry may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Mount Berry's water
Every contaminant flagged in Mount Berry, 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. | 0.0 | 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
03Mount Berry'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 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
9 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 2.5 ppb since 2006. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Mount Berry's water comes from
Mount Berry's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Local treatment
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under private ownership.
2,200 people
Residents served across Mount Berry'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 private ownership and serves approximately 2,200 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERRY COLLEGE | GA1150003 | 2,200 | Surface Water |
Water bodies near Mount Berry
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Mount Berry's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Mount Berry'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.
Flood & storm history
3 federal disaster declarations on record for Floyd County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Mount Berry compares
Scores for nearby Georgia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Georgia average (61/100)
Mount Berry scores 85.1/100 — above the Georgia average of 61/100. It outscores 10 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 Mount Berry's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Mount Berry'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 Mount Berry 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 Mount Berry, GA tap water safe to drink?
Mount Berry's water quality earned a grade of A- (85.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #103 out of 372 cities tested in Georgia.
What contaminants are in Mount Berry's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 3 violations are on record.
How is Mount Berry'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 Mount Berry?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Mount Berry's water come from?
Mount Berry's water is sourced from Surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,200 residents.
How does Mount Berry's water compare to other cities?
Mount Berry ranks #103 out of 372 cities in Georgia (better than 72% of state cities) and #5466 out of 15382 cities nationally (65th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Mount Berry's small water system affect quality?
Mount Berry's system serves approximately 2,200 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 3 violations on record.