01The verdict: is Mount Zion water safe?
Mount Zion's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (88/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,691 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
5 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 ↓A flood-prone service area
5 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Mount Zion's drinking water received a grade of A- (88 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,691 residents using purchased 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 11 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved.
Mount Zion ranks #52 out of 372 cities in Georgia for water quality, placing it above 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. As a small community water system, Mount Zion may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Mount Zion's water
Every contaminant flagged in Mount Zion, 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 Zion'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 11 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 5 remain unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Mount Zion.
▼ Down 2.5 ppb since 2004. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2023) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Mount Zion's water comes from
Mount Zion'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.
1,691 people
Residents served across Mount Zion'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 1,691 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNT ZION | GA0450003 | 1,691 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Mount Zion
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Mount Zion's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Mount Zion'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 570 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 Carroll County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Carroll 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 Mount Zion compares
Scores for nearby Georgia cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Georgia average (61/100)
Mount Zion scores 88/100 — 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 Zion's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Mount Zion'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 Zion 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 Zion, GA tap water safe to drink?
Mount Zion's water quality earned a grade of A- (88/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #52 out of 372 cities tested in Georgia.
What contaminants are in Mount Zion's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 11 violations are on record.
How is Mount Zion'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 Zion?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Mount Zion's water come from?
Mount Zion's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,691 residents.
How does Mount Zion's water compare to other cities?
Mount Zion ranks #52 out of 372 cities in Georgia (better than 86% of state cities) and #3693 out of 15382 cities nationally (76th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Mount Zion's small water system affect quality?
Mount Zion's system serves approximately 1,691 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 11 violations on record.