Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Georgia Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

220

Cities Tested

220

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

8.2 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

299

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Georgia: what the data shows

Georgia has 220 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 220 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Georgia

100%

220 of 220 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

7727 of 7727 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Georgia

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Georgia

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Georgia cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Savannah	147 violations	Yes	111	F
2	Eatonton	116 violations	Yes	121	F
3	Americus	103 violations	Yes	35	F
4	Twin City	78 violations	Yes	18	D
5	Statesboro	72 violations	Yes	50	F
6	Valdosta	61 violations	Yes	78	F
7	Roswell	53 violations	Yes	10	F
8	Douglas	45 violations	Yes	14	F
9	Blairsville	33 violations	Yes	11	F
10	Midway	33 violations	Yes	47	D
11	Athens	32 violations	Yes	52	F
12	Watkinsville	31 violations	Yes	66	F
13	Cordele	30 violations	Yes	13	D
14	Hinesville	29 violations	Yes	24	D
15	Bainbridge	29 violations	Yes	17	D+
16	Brunswick	25 violations	Yes	23	F
17	Atlanta	23 violations	Yes	21	F
18	Albany	20 violations	Yes	11	F
19	Cairo	20 violations	Yes	23	D
20	Cumming	19 violations	Yes	30	F
21	Griffin	19 violations	Yes	9	F
22	Jesup	19 violations	Yes	23	F
23	Lake Park	19 violations	Yes	176	F
24	Ludowici	19 violations	Yes	26	D
25	Thomasville	18 violations	Yes	39	D
26	Hephzibah	18 violations	Yes	11	F
27	Blakely	17 violations	Yes	7	C-
28	Jackson	13 violations	Yes	18	D
29	Vidalia	13 violations	Yes	48	D
30	Pooler	12 violations	Yes	9	D+
31	Talbotton	12 violations	Yes	24	D
32	Gainesville	11 violations	Yes	3	C+
33	Leesburg	11 violations	Yes	7	C-
34	Cleveland	11 violations	Yes	15	F
35	Conyers	10 violations	Yes	14	D+
36	Moultrie	10 violations	Yes	5	C-
37	Woodbine	10 violations	Yes	2	B-
38	Dublin	9 violations	Yes	3	F
39	Millen	9 violations	Yes	2	A-
40	Colquitt	9 violations	Yes	3	A-
41	Rincon	8 violations	Yes	14	F
42	Richmond Hill	8 violations	Yes	4	B-
43	Darien	8 violations	Yes	3	C-
44	Pine Mountain	8 violations	Yes	2	F
45	Metter	8 violations	Yes	5	B
46	Pelham	8 violations	Yes	10	C-
47	Woodland	8 violations	Yes	6	B+
48	Warner Robins	7 violations	Yes	7	B-
49	Monroe	7 violations	Yes	4	B
50	Hartwell	7 violations	Yes	53	F
51	Waynesboro	7 violations	Yes	1	B-
52	Lumpkin	7 violations	Yes	6	F
53	Claxton	7 violations	Yes	6	D
54	Townsend	7 violations	Yes	12	F
55	Newington	7 violations	Yes	2	F
56	Shellman	7 violations	Yes	4	B
57	Alpharetta	6 violations	Yes	4	F
58	Forsyth	6 violations	Yes	16	C
59	Dahlonega	6 violations	Yes	10	F
60	Elberton	6 violations	Yes	1	D+
61	Cornelia	6 violations	Yes	2	B
62	Nicholson	6 violations	Yes	3	B
63	Thunderbolt	6 violations	Yes	4	C+
64	Norman Park	6 violations	Yes	0	C
65	Brooks	6 violations	Yes	3	B-
66	Augusta	5 violations	Yes	31	F
67	Grovetown	5 violations	Yes	6	B-
68	Ellijay	5 violations	Yes	9	C+
69	Auburn	5 violations	Yes	11	F
70	Senoia	5 violations	Yes	5	C+
71	Hawkinsville	5 violations	Yes	8	A-
72	Blackshear	5 violations	Yes	4	B-
73	Walthourville	5 violations	Yes	1	D
74	Omega	5 violations	Yes	5	B+
75	Reynolds	5 violations	Yes	9	C-
76	Fayetteville	4 violations	Yes	19	C
77	Port Wentworth	4 violations	Yes	6	D+
78	Jefferson	4 violations	Yes	8	C+
79	Braselton	4 violations	Yes	1	B
80	Springfield	4 violations	Yes	3	F
81	Young Harris	4 violations	Yes	0	A
82	Garden City	4 violations	Yes	4	B+
83	Swainsboro	4 violations	Yes	4	C-
84	Blue Ridge	4 violations	Yes	15	D
85	Hampton	4 violations	Yes	2	B-
86	Carnesville	4 violations	Yes	47	D
87	Quitman	4 violations	Yes	15	B-
88	Ashburn	4 violations	Yes	0	A-
89	Lyons	4 violations	Yes	32	D
90	Baldwin	4 violations	Yes	3	A-
91	Alto	4 violations	Yes	13	B+
92	Martin	4 violations	Yes	6	B
93	Morgan	4 violations	Yes	1	A-
94	Richland	4 violations	Yes	5	B+
95	Meigs	4 violations	Yes	2	A-
96	Rutledge	4 violations	Yes	0	B-
97	Sycamore	4 violations	Yes	0	A-
98	Midville	4 violations	Yes	1	A-
99	Ellabell	4 violations	Yes	0	B+
100	Cadwell	4 violations	Yes	1	A
101	Shiloh	4 violations	Yes	1	B+
102	Carrollton	3 violations	Yes	14	C
103	Tifton	3 violations	Yes	6	C-
104	Clayton	3 violations	Yes	1	A-
105	Barnesville	3 violations	Yes	10	C
106	Madison	3 violations	Yes	5	B
107	Danielsville	3 violations	Yes	9	D+
108	Roberta	3 violations	Yes	7	B+
109	Reidsville	3 violations	Yes	4	C-
110	Wrightsville	3 violations	Yes	5	A-
111	Royston	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
112	Georgetown	3 violations	Yes	2	B
113	Wadley	3 violations	Yes	1	B
114	Jeffersonville	3 violations	Yes	1	C+
115	Pearson	3 violations	Yes	1	B
116	Marshallville	3 violations	Yes	12	B-
117	Crawford	3 violations	Yes	44	D
118	Boston	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
119	Lenox	3 violations	Yes	2	A
120	Sardis	3 violations	Yes	5	A-
121	Canon	3 violations	Yes	0	B-
122	Uvalda	3 violations	Yes	1	D
123	White	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
124	Norcross	3 violations	Yes	0	C
125	Pitts	3 violations	Yes	0	A-
126	Crawfordville	3 violations	Yes	10	C+
127	Toomsboro	3 violations	Yes	3	A
128	Allenhurst	3 violations	Yes	6	B-
129	Marietta	2 violations	Yes	5	B+
130	Covington	2 violations	Yes	20	F
131	Dawsonville	2 violations	Yes	11	B-
132	Jasper	2 violations	Yes	5	B-
133	Gray	2 violations	Yes	1	D+
134	Demorest	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
135	Fitzgerald	2 violations	Yes	27	A-
136	Monticello	2 violations	Yes	25	D+
137	Buena Vista	2 violations	Yes	17	F
138	Sylvester	2 violations	Yes	5	A-
139	Hoschton	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
140	Pembroke	2 violations	Yes	0	C-
141	Adel	2 violations	Yes	0	A
142	Temple	2 violations	Yes	3	B
143	Dawson	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
144	Nashville	2 violations	Yes	3	A
145	Ocilla	2 violations	Yes	4	C-
146	Cuthbert	2 violations	Yes	5	B
147	Abbeville	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
148	Donalsonville	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
149	Luthersville	2 violations	Yes	0	B-
150	Tennille	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
151	Davisboro	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
152	Chester	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
153	Brooklet	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
154	Rochelle	2 violations	Yes	1	B
155	Broxton	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
156	Ray City	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
157	Enigma	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
158	Ivey	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
159	Arlington	2 violations	Yes	6	B
160	Homeland	2 violations	Yes	13	A-
161	Adrian	2 violations	Yes	1	B
162	Ochlocknee	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
163	Patterson	2 violations	Yes	1	A-
164	Smithville	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
165	Waverly Hall	2 violations	Yes	0	D+
166	Berlin	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
167	Ailey	2 violations	Yes	25	C+
168	Cobbtown	2 violations	Yes	4	A-
169	Bronwood	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
170	Dallas	1 violations	Yes	5	B
171	Dalton	1 violations	Yes	0	B
172	Cartersville	1 violations	Yes	6	B
173	Kathleen	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
174	Rome	1 violations	Yes	3	B
175	Cedartown	1 violations	Yes	4	B+
176	Waycross	1 violations	Yes	7	C+
177	Cataula	1 violations	Yes	2	B
178	St. Marys	1 violations	Yes	8	B-
179	La Fayette	1 violations	Yes	1	B
180	Mcdonough	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
181	Villa Rica	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
182	Summerville	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
183	Camilla	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
184	Homer	1 violations	Yes	10	C+
185	Franklin	1 violations	Yes	11	B-
186	Cochran	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
187	Adairsville	1 violations	Yes	2	A
188	Washington	1 violations	Yes	11	B+
189	Hazlehurst	1 violations	Yes	7	C+
190	Glennville	1 violations	Yes	6	B+
191	Louisville	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
192	Greensboro	1 violations	Yes	46	C-
193	Butler	1 violations	Yes	24	B-
194	Sparta	1 violations	Yes	4	D
195	Alma	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
196	Statham	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
197	Unadilla	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
198	Cusseta	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
199	Warrenton	1 violations	Yes	53	D
200	Pinehurst	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
201	Irwinton	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
202	Comer	1 violations	Yes	7	B+
203	Warm Springs	1 violations	Yes	34	B
204	Blythe	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
205	Bowman	1 violations	Yes	0	B
206	Baconton	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
207	Screven	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
208	Lexington	1 violations	Yes	33	D
209	Menlo	1 violations	Yes	1	B
210	Plains	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
211	Preston	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
212	Portal	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
213	Pavo	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
214	Stillmore	1 violations	Yes	2	C
215	Milan	1 violations	Yes	0	B
216	Concord	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
217	Alapaha	1 violations	Yes	3	C+
218	Coolidge	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
219	Barwick	1 violations	Yes	1	A
220	Yatesville	1 violations	Yes	0	B

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Georgia

Is nitrate in Georgia tap water dangerous?

Yes — 220 cities in Georgia have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Georgia water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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