The Athens-Clarke County Public Utilities Department (PUD) released the 2022 Drinking Water Quality Report detailing the local water supply quality in 2021.  The annual report compares our water to the stringent federal and state standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Georgia Environmental Protection Divison (EPD).

“We are committed to providing clean and safe drinking water and appreciate the trust our residents place in the utility,” states Hollis Terry, Director of the PUD.  “Our certified drinking water operators and lab technicians take great pride in knowing they produce a product that meets the high regulatory standards and honors their commitment to protecting Athens’ residents.”  

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 (ACC).  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. 

The EPA sets legal limits on over 90 substances in drinking water, nine of which were detected in Athens drinking water in 2021 and included in the 2022 report.  All are within limits except for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), a disinfection byproduct.  The PUD distributed a public notification regarding the July 2021 violation to customers in November 2021.  The PUD took several actions, including adding automatic flushers and increased line flushing, to return to compliance in November 2021.  The 2022 CCR again provides details of the violation, with more information on the utility website at www.accgov.com/tthm. 

The PUD reliably delivered over 4.4 billion gallons of water in 2021.  Businesses, firefighters, hospitals, schools, and families depend on this resource to enhance our public health, economy, and environment.  PUD’s water professionals work around the clock to deliver a quality product at a good value with the transparency our customers demand.        

The PUD mails the CCR to all water customers before July 1, 2022.  Please take a few minutes to review the report.  If you do not receive a report or want a copy, the CCR is available at 124 E. Hancock Ave. and accessible on the utility website at www.accgov.com/ccr. 

For more information about the 2022 Water Quality Report or questions regarding the water provided by Athens-Clarke County, please call Laurel Loftin at (762) 400-6739.