Copper in Georgia Drinking Water
Ranked by 90th percentile copper level (mg/L) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR
Copper in Georgia: what the data shows
Georgia has 72 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 276.658 mg/L, compared to 28.808 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 72 cities exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L. Copper in drinking water typically comes from corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly in older homes. The EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L is the 90th percentile threshold — if more than 10% of tap samples exceed it, utilities must take corrective action including adjusting water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. Short-term copper exposure above the action level can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure at elevated levels is associated with liver and kidney damage. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use and using an NSF 53-certified filter can reduce copper exposure.
Cities exceeding 1.3 mg/L EPA Action Level
Copper data across Georgia
Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with copper levels above the 1.3 mg/L EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.
Top 10 cities by copper level in Georgia
All Georgia cities ranked by copper level
| # | City | Level | Level | Exceeds? | Violations | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alpharetta | 5250.000 mg/L | Yes | 4 | F | |
| 2 | Athens | 4100.000 mg/L | Yes | 52 | F | |
| 3 | Saint Simons Island | 1565.000 mg/L | Yes | 7 | B- | |
| 4 | Kings Bay (U.S. Navy) | 1500.000 mg/L | Yes | 7 | B+ | |
| 5 | Flowery Branch | 1500.000 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B+ | |
| 6 | Royston | 1500.000 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B+ | |
| 7 | Gainesville | 1460.000 mg/L | Yes | 3 | C+ | |
| 8 | Homerville | 1400.000 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B+ | |
| 9 | Cumming | 1350.000 mg/L | Yes | 30 | F | |
| 10 | St. Marys | 154.000 mg/L | Yes | 8 | B- | |
| 11 | Homer | 6.522 mg/L | Yes | 10 | C+ | |
| 12 | Conyers | 4.900 mg/L | Yes | 14 | D+ | |
| 13 | Gordon | 4.100 mg/L | Yes | 6 | B | |
| 14 | Jackson | 3.850 mg/L | Yes | 18 | D | |
| 15 | Blairsville | 3.850 mg/L | Yes | 11 | F | |
| 16 | Hartwell | 3.800 mg/L | Yes | 53 | F | |
| 17 | Nicholson | 3.700 mg/L | Yes | 3 | B | |
| 18 | Hoschton | 3.300 mg/L | Yes | 3 | B+ | |
| 19 | Griffin | 3.200 mg/L | Yes | 9 | F | |
| 20 | Sparta | 3.100 mg/L | Yes | 4 | D | |
| 21 | Savannah | 3.000 mg/L | Yes | 111 | F | |
| 22 | Roswell | 3.000 mg/L | Yes | 10 | F | |
| 23 | Dawsonville | 2.975 mg/L | Yes | 11 | B- | |
| 24 | Jasper | 2.900 mg/L | Yes | 5 | B- | |
| 25 | Dahlonega | 2.900 mg/L | Yes | 10 | F | |
| 26 | Pine Mountain | 2.875 mg/L | Yes | 2 | F | |
| 27 | Sandersville | 2.820 mg/L | Yes | 2 | B | |
| 28 | Reynolds | 2.800 mg/L | Yes | 9 | C- | |
| 29 | Atlanta | 2.700 mg/L | Yes | 21 | F | |
| 30 | Whitesburg | 2.700 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B | |
| 31 | Auburn | 2.380 mg/L | Yes | 11 | F | |
| 32 | Townsend | 2.284 mg/L | Yes | 12 | F | |
| 33 | Brunswick | 2.225 mg/L | Yes | 23 | F | |
| 34 | Ideal | 2.200 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B | |
| 35 | Rabun Gap | 2.150 mg/L | Yes | 3 | C | |
| 36 | Buena Vista | 2.100 mg/L | Yes | 17 | F | |
| 37 | Warm Springs | 2.100 mg/L | Yes | 34 | B | |
| 38 | Gibson | 2.100 mg/L | Yes | 24 | D | |
| 39 | Westminster | 2.016 mg/L | Yes | 2 | B+ | |
| 40 | Byron | 2.000 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B+ | |
| 41 | Statham | 2.000 mg/L | Yes | 3 | B- | |
| 42 | Lake Park | 1.900 mg/L | Yes | 176 | F | |
| 43 | Oxford | 1.900 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B+ | |
| 44 | Monroe | 1.839 mg/L | Yes | 4 | B | |
| 45 | Morganton | 1.740 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B | |
| 46 | Cornelia | 1.650 mg/L | Yes | 2 | B | |
| 47 | Yatesville | 1.645 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B | |
| 48 | Fayetteville | 1.630 mg/L | Yes | 19 | C | |
| 49 | Tifton | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 6 | C- | |
| 50 | Senoia | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 5 | C+ | |
| 51 | Waynesboro | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B- | |
| 52 | Hamilton | 1.600 mg/L | Yes | 0 | A- | |
| 53 | Hephzibah | 1.555 mg/L | Yes | 11 | F | |
| 54 | Warner Robins | 1.530 mg/L | Yes | 7 | B- | |
| 55 | Woodbine | 1.520 mg/L | Yes | 2 | B- | |
| 56 | Braselton | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B | |
| 57 | Bowman | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B | |
| 58 | Ivey | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 2 | B+ | |
| 59 | Rutledge | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 0 | B- | |
| 60 | Smithville | 1.500 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B+ | |
| 61 | Madison | 1.484 mg/L | Yes | 5 | B | |
| 62 | Elberton | 1.470 mg/L | Yes | 1 | D+ | |
| 63 | Leesburg | 1.450 mg/L | Yes | 7 | C- | |
| 64 | Gray | 1.410 mg/L | Yes | 1 | D+ | |
| 65 | Jefferson | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 8 | C+ | |
| 66 | Eatonton | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 121 | F | |
| 67 | Watkinsville | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 66 | F | |
| 68 | Villa Rica | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 1 | B- | |
| 69 | Cleveland | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 15 | F | |
| 70 | Carnesville | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 47 | D | |
| 71 | Greensboro | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 46 | C- | |
| 72 | Concord | 1.400 mg/L | Yes | 0 | A- |
Frequently asked questions about copper in Georgia
Is copper in Georgia drinking water safe?
72 cities in Georgia exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 276.658 mg/L. Copper levels are highest in homes with copper plumbing, particularly when water sits in pipes overnight. Flushing the tap before use significantly reduces copper in drinking water.
What causes high copper levels in Georgia tap water?
Copper typically leaches from copper pipes and brass fittings within homes, not from the water source itself. Corrosive (low pH or soft) water accelerates this leaching. Water utilities with high copper readings are required to adjust water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. You can reduce exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use.