HAA5 Contamination

HAA5 in Georgia Drinking Water

Ranked by average HAA5 concentration (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

103

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

18.9 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 1% vs national

vs National

303

Health Violations

Analysis

HAA5 in Georgia: what the data shows

Georgia has 103 cities with HAA5 monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Haloacetic acids (HAA5) form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with natural organic matter in water. The state average is 18.9 µg/L — better than the 15.5 µg/L national average. No cities currently exceed the 60 µg/L EPA MCL. HAA5 is a group of five chlorinated and brominated acetic acids. Long-term exposure above the MCL is associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive outcomes. The EPA classifies total HAA5 as a probable human carcinogen at elevated concentrations. Activated carbon filtration (especially granular or block carbon) is effective at reducing HAA5. Running water through a refrigerator filter or letting it sit in an open pitcher for 30 minutes also helps, as some HAA5 species are volatile. Boiling does not remove disinfection byproducts and may concentrate them.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 60 µg/L EPA MCL

Georgia

0 of 103 cities

← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)

National avg

23 of 4420 cities

City Map

HAA5 data across Georgia

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 HAA5 testing data. Cities where average HAA5 exceeded the 60 µg/L EPA MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by haa5 level in Georgia

Highest HAA5 levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Georgia cities ranked by haa5 level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Fairburn	54.1 µg/L	No	2	B
2	Atlanta	48.7 µg/L	No	21	F
3	Valdosta	48.3 µg/L	No	78	F
4	Milledgeville	45.3 µg/L	No	33	D
5	Augusta	44.9 µg/L	No	31	F
6	Douglasville	44.6 µg/L	No	0	A
7	Toccoa	42.8 µg/L	No	6	B+
8	Watkinsville	41.3 µg/L	No	66	F
9	Demorest	40.9 µg/L	No	1	B+
10	Eatonton	40.6 µg/L	No	121	F
11	Calhoun	40.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
12	Buchanan	39.6 µg/L	No	12	C+
13	Morrow	37.8 µg/L	No	1	B+
14	Thomson	37.6 µg/L	No	28	D
15	Trenton	36.7 µg/L	No	1	B+
16	Braselton	33.7 µg/L	No	1	B
17	Carrollton	33.5 µg/L	No	14	C
18	Griffin	32.9 µg/L	No	9	F
19	Bremen	32.7 µg/L	No	2	B+
20	Woodbury	32.1 µg/L	No	4	A
21	Homer	32.0 µg/L	No	10	C+
22	East Point	31.8 µg/L	No	5	B
23	Jefferson	31.6 µg/L	No	8	C+
24	Winder	31.5 µg/L	No	5	B+
25	Thomaston	31.4 µg/L	No	15	C+
26	Villa Rica	31.0 µg/L	No	1	B-
27	Fayetteville	30.6 µg/L	No	19	C
28	Alpharetta	30.1 µg/L	No	4	F
29	Dublin	30.1 µg/L	No	3	F
30	Jackson	29.7 µg/L	No	18	D
31	Columbus	29.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
32	Cumming	29.3 µg/L	No	30	F
33	Dalton	28.4 µg/L	No	0	B
34	Covington	27.9 µg/L	No	20	F
35	Dallas	26.8 µg/L	No	5	B
36	Dawsonville	26.8 µg/L	No	11	B-
37	Summerville	26.6 µg/L	No	3	A-
38	Grovetown	25.4 µg/L	No	6	B-
39	Cataula	25.3 µg/L	No	2	B
40	Loganville	24.6 µg/L	No	3	A
41	Smyrna	24.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
42	Marietta	24.0 µg/L	No	5	B+
43	Monroe	23.7 µg/L	No	4	B
44	Roswell	23.4 µg/L	No	10	F
45	Cartersville	23.1 µg/L	No	6	B
46	Canton	23.1 µg/L	No	5	B
47	Locust Grove	22.7 µg/L	No	1	B+
48	Athens	22.2 µg/L	No	52	F
49	Newnan	22.1 µg/L	No	4	B
50	Martinez	21.9 µg/L	No	3	B-
51	Port Wentworth	21.4 µg/L	No	6	D+
52	College Park	21.4 µg/L	No	0	B
53	Union City	20.8 µg/L	No	12	B-
54	Austell	20.7 µg/L	No	1	B+
55	La Grange	17.5 µg/L	No	1	B+
56	Conyers	17.2 µg/L	No	14	D+
57	Buford	17.1 µg/L	No	0	B+
58	Woodstock	16.8 µg/L	No	1	B+
59	Gainesville	16.5 µg/L	No	3	C+
60	Rome	14.7 µg/L	No	3	B
61	Macon	14.5 µg/L	No	3	C+
62	St. Marys	13.6 µg/L	No	8	B-
63	Pooler	13.6 µg/L	No	9	D+
64	Ellijay	11.1 µg/L	No	9	C+
65	Blairsville	10.8 µg/L	No	11	F
66	Ringgold	10.7 µg/L	No	11	B-
67	Kingsland	10.6 µg/L	No	12	B
68	Decatur	8.1 µg/L	No	0	B+
69	Saint Simons Island	7.2 µg/L	No	7	B-
70	Chatsworth	6.5 µg/L	No	3	C-
71	Waycross	5.4 µg/L	No	7	C+
72	Douglas	3.2 µg/L	No	14	F
73	Brunswick	3.0 µg/L	No	23	F
74	Fort Gaines	2.8 µg/L	No	8	B-
75	La Fayette	2.1 µg/L	No	1	B
76	Hinesville	2.0 µg/L	No	24	D
77	Fort Stewart (U.S. Army)	1.7 µg/L	No	6	A
78	Flintstone	1.7 µg/L	No	0	B
79	Savannah	1.6 µg/L	No	111	F
80	Cordele	1.6 µg/L	No	13	D
81	Moultrie	1.5 µg/L	No	5	C-
82	Jesup	1.4 µg/L	No	23	F
83	Tifton	1.4 µg/L	No	6	C-
84	Albany	1.4 µg/L	No	11	F
85	Leesburg	1.3 µg/L	No	7	C-
86	Cedartown	0.9 µg/L	No	4	B+
87	Cave Spring	0.9 µg/L	No	2	A
88	Fitzgerald	0.8 µg/L	No	27	A-
89	Perry	0.7 µg/L	No	1	A
90	Vidalia	0.7 µg/L	No	48	D
91	Fort Valley	0.6 µg/L	No	0	A
92	Warner Robins	0.6 µg/L	No	7	B-
93	Blythe	0.6 µg/L	No	0	A-
94	Statesboro	0.5 µg/L	No	50	F
95	Americus	0.5 µg/L	No	35	F
96	Richmond Hill	0.4 µg/L	No	4	B-
97	Bainbridge	0.4 µg/L	No	17	D+
98	Blakely	0.3 µg/L	No	7	C-
99	Gray	0.3 µg/L	No	1	D+
100	Thomasville	0.2 µg/L	No	39	D
101	Kathleen	0.1 µg/L	No	0	A-
102	Colquitt	0.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
103	Milan	0.0 µg/L	No	0	B

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about haa5 in Georgia

What is HAA5 and why does it appear in Georgia tap water?

HAA5 (haloacetic acids) are disinfection byproducts that form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in source water. They are a normal byproduct of the disinfection process that makes water safe to drink. No cities in Georgia currently exceed the 60 µg/L EPA MCL. The state average is 18.9 µg/L.

How can I reduce HAA5 exposure from Georgia drinking water?

Activated carbon filters (granular or block) effectively reduce HAA5. Refrigerator filters and under-sink carbon systems are convenient options. Unlike lead or PFAS, HAA5 levels can also be reduced by letting water stand in an open container, as some species evaporate. Boiling does NOT remove HAA5 and can concentrate them by reducing water volume.

Which Georgia cities have the highest HAA5 levels?

The cities with the highest average HAA5 concentrations in Georgia are: Fairburn (54.1 µg/L), Atlanta (48.7 µg/L), Valdosta (48.3 µg/L), Milledgeville (45.3 µg/L), Augusta (44.9 µg/L). Note: this data is from UCMR 4 testing (2018–2020) and may not reflect current levels.

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