Manganese Contamination

Manganese in Georgia Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

18%

% Over SMCL

47.1 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

303

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in Georgia: what the data shows

Georgia has 98 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 18 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 47.1 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

Georgia

18%

18 of 98 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

18%

729 of 4068 cities

City Map

Manganese data across Georgia

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in Georgia

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Georgia cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	Watkinsville	947.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	66	F
2	Thomson	626.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	28	D
3	Newnan	487.3 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	B
4	Woodstock	249.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	B+
5	Cataula	167.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	B
6	Loganville	164.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A
7	Blairsville	141.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	11	F
8	Carrollton	127.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	14	C
9	Canton	92.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	5	B
10	Demorest	73.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	B+
11	Jackson	73.4 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	D
12	Tifton	72.6 µg/L	Over SMCL	6	C-
13	Jefferson	66.5 µg/L	Over SMCL	8	C+
14	Woodbury	60.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	A
15	Grovetown	58.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	6	B-
16	Decatur	58.3 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	B+
17	Dublin	55.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	F
18	Statesboro	51.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	50	F
19	Milledgeville	47.3 µg/L	No	33	D
20	Morrow	47.3 µg/L	No	1	B+
21	Milan	47.0 µg/L	No	0	B
22	Marietta	46.0 µg/L	No	5	B+
23	Chatsworth	43.7 µg/L	No	3	C-
24	Vidalia	40.2 µg/L	No	48	D
25	Augusta	38.3 µg/L	No	31	F
26	Cedartown	38.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
27	Douglas	36.9 µg/L	No	14	F
28	Columbus	34.8 µg/L	No	0	B+
29	Albany	33.5 µg/L	No	11	F
30	Locust Grove	31.5 µg/L	No	1	B+
31	Fort Valley	30.7 µg/L	No	0	A
32	Dallas	29.0 µg/L	No	5	B
33	Buchanan	28.8 µg/L	No	12	C+
34	Rome	23.1 µg/L	No	3	B
35	Fitzgerald	22.3 µg/L	No	27	A-
36	Martinez	21.0 µg/L	No	3	B-
37	Valdosta	20.0 µg/L	No	78	F
38	Eatonton	18.8 µg/L	No	121	F
39	Villa Rica	18.0 µg/L	No	1	B-
40	Pooler	16.4 µg/L	No	9	D+
41	Fayetteville	16.1 µg/L	No	19	C
42	Thomaston	14.8 µg/L	No	15	C+
43	Gray	14.5 µg/L	No	1	D+
44	Kathleen	14.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
45	Warner Robins	14.0 µg/L	No	7	B-
46	Fairburn	13.9 µg/L	No	2	B
47	Port Wentworth	11.0 µg/L	No	6	D+
48	Colquitt	11.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
49	Smyrna	10.9 µg/L	No	0	B+
50	Savannah	10.7 µg/L	No	111	F
51	Cartersville	10.4 µg/L	No	6	B
52	Winder	9.6 µg/L	No	5	B+
53	Americus	9.3 µg/L	No	35	F
54	Roswell	8.8 µg/L	No	10	F
55	Griffin	8.6 µg/L	No	9	F
56	Bremen	8.6 µg/L	No	2	B+
57	Covington	8.4 µg/L	No	20	F
58	Cordele	8.4 µg/L	No	13	D
59	Conyers	8.4 µg/L	No	14	D+
60	Flintstone	8.2 µg/L	No	0	B
61	Trenton	8.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
62	Jesup	7.4 µg/L	No	23	F
63	Ellijay	6.8 µg/L	No	9	C+
64	Calhoun	6.4 µg/L	No	1	B+
65	College Park	5.8 µg/L	No	0	B
66	Ringgold	5.6 µg/L	No	11	B-
67	Buford	5.0 µg/L	No	0	B+
68	Athens	4.9 µg/L	No	52	F
69	Perry	4.7 µg/L	No	1	A
70	Summerville	4.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
71	Gainesville	3.8 µg/L	No	3	C+
72	Austell	3.4 µg/L	No	1	B+
73	Dalton	3.4 µg/L	No	0	B
74	Cumming	3.2 µg/L	No	30	F
75	Waycross	3.2 µg/L	No	7	C+
76	Fort Gaines	3.2 µg/L	No	8	B-
77	Douglasville	3.0 µg/L	No	0	A
78	Blythe	2.9 µg/L	No	0	A-
79	Macon	2.5 µg/L	No	3	C+
80	La Grange	2.2 µg/L	No	1	B+
81	Dawsonville	2.2 µg/L	No	11	B-
82	Homer	2.2 µg/L	No	10	C+
83	Leesburg	2.1 µg/L	No	7	C-
84	Monroe	2.0 µg/L	No	4	B
85	Atlanta	2.0 µg/L	No	21	F
86	Saint Simons Island	1.8 µg/L	No	7	B-
87	East Point	1.6 µg/L	No	5	B
88	St. Marys	1.3 µg/L	No	8	B-
89	Braselton	1.2 µg/L	No	1	B
90	Brunswick	1.1 µg/L	No	23	F
91	Alpharetta	1.0 µg/L	No	4	F
92	Thomasville	1.0 µg/L	No	39	D
93	Blakely	1.0 µg/L	No	7	C-
94	La Fayette	1.0 µg/L	No	1	B
95	Toccoa	0.9 µg/L	No	6	B+
96	Union City	0.8 µg/L	No	12	B-
97	Moultrie	0.7 µg/L	No	5	C-
98	Kingsland	0.6 µg/L	No	12	B

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in Georgia

Is manganese in Georgia tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 18 cities in Georgia exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in Georgia water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

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