The Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department (PUD) released the 2021 Drinking Water Quality Report detailing the local water supply quality in 2020. The report confirms that the drinking water delivered to homes and businesses in Athens met or surpassed all stringent state and federal standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). 

Also known as the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), the annual water quality report is a performance measure of the tap water supplied in Athens-Clarke County. The PUD performs extensive water quality testing, conducting approximately 16,000 tests annually. The report provides customers with information regarding the tests and the results, information on our local surface water sources, public health information, and how our water complies with drinking water regulations.

"With the pandemic, our residents had unprecedented health concerns. We hope the delivery of clean, safe drinking water to our customers for handwashing and convenience during the lockdowns minimized some of the anxiety we all felt," says William Cottrell, ACC Superintendent of Drinking Water Treatment. "We recognize our responsibility to provide a trusted product to the community."  

Cottrell oversees operations at the JG Beacham Drinking Water Treatment Plant, which has had no violations in the past 13 years and earned the 2021 Platinum Award from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals for quality water treatment in 2020.  

Daphne Little supervises the sampling and testing of our water from the source to tap. "We are proud of our record for not only meeting the regulated standards for drinking water quality, but exceeding the EPA standards year after year. In a sense, our customers allow us into their home. We respect and honor that trust by delivering to the tap a safe and reliable product."   

The Public Utilities Department mails the Drinking Water Quality Report to all water customers before July 1, 2021. The CCR is also available in hard copy at 124 E. Hancock Ave. and accessible on the utility website at www.accgov.com/ccr. 

For more information about the 2021 Water Quality Report or questions regarding the water provided by Athens-Clarke County, please call Laurel Loftin at (762) 400-6739.