Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Gainesville?
Yes, Gainesville's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Gainesville has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Gainesville's water utility, Gainesville, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the Gainesville water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Gainesville Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Gainesville tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Gainesville's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Gainesville Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Gainesville for Gainesville in Georgia. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
Is there Lead in Gainesville Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Gainesville water system, Gainesville, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.003 mg/L of lead in Gainesville water. This is 20.0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Gainesville contained more lead.
While Gainesville water testing may have found 0.003 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Gainesville Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Winder Barrow County Airport (enclave) - near Gainesville with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Gainesville has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Gainesville Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 770-535-6895 |
| By Email: | blackey@gainesvillega.gov |
| By Mail: | POB 2496 CITY OF GAINESVILLE, GA, 30503 |
Existing customers can login to their Gainesville account to pay their Gainesville water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Gainesville bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Gainesville water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Gainesville water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Gainesville means you will often need to put the water in your name with Gainesville. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Gainesville means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Gainesville. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.75 in USD (1.5-liter)
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Gainesville, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Gainesville Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Gainesville's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
2020 WATER
QUALITY REPORT
This Consumer Confidence Report, provided by June 1, contains important information about your drinking
water. The sampling results, unless otherwise noted, are from calendar year 2020.
The City of Gainesville Department of Water Resources (DWR), WSID 1390001, provides water to residential, commercial, and industrial customers located within the Gainesville corporate limits, a large portion of unincorporated Hall County and within the corporate limits of the cities of Clermont, Buford, Oakwood, Braselton, Flowery Branch, and Gillsville. The Gainesville service area covers approximately 400 square miles. The water system serves a customer base of approximately 58,800 accounts with an estimated 155,000+ users. This report includes information about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies. DWR is committed to providing the community with clean, safe, and reliable drinking water.
We welcome your comments and participation on issues that concern your drinking water. Linda
MacGregor, DWR Director, may be reached at (770)
- The plan is effective on January 1, 2022. “
The Gainesville Mayor and City Council support the DWR in being an industry leader now and into the
future. This involves having a sustainable and resilient plan that encompasses operations and maintenance, science and engineering, finances, and capital projects. The Mayor and Council have approved a
Este informe contiene informacion muy importante sobre su agua potable. Traducalo o hable con aluien que lo entienda bien.
Understanding the Water Quality Chart
The Drinking Water Quality Chart on the page to the right compares the quality of your drinking
water to the state drinking water standards. In 2020, DWR conducted more than 1,600 laboratory tests for
over 100 drinking water parameters. This chart includes information on all regulated drinking water
contaminants that were detected during calendar year 2020. Contaminants that were tested for, but not detected, are not included in this report. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water Hotline
Terms & Abbreviations used:
Regulatory Action Level (AL): the concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): the highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): the level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
Treatment Technique (TT): a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.
Notes about possible contaminants:
The sources of drinking water, both tap water and bottled water, include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
- Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
- Inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals, which can be naturally occurring or result from urban storm runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
- Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.
-
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are
by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems. - Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Environmental Protection Agency prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.
Who needs to take special precautions:
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno- compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline:
Lead in Drinking WaterIf present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Gainesville’s water system is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at
The following drinking water analysis tables list all the drinking water contaminants that we detected during the 2020 calendar year. The presence of these contaminants in the water does not necessarily indicate that the water poses a health risk. Unless otherwise noted, the data presented in this table is from testing completed from January 1 - December 31, 2020.
Drinking Water Analysis Table
EPA Regulated Inorganic Substances or Contaminants
Substance |
MCL |
MCLG |
Average Detected |
Range |
Violation |
Major Sources |
|
(Unit) |
Level |
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Fluoride1 (ppm) |
4 |
4 |
0.60 |
No |
Erosion of natural deposits; water |
||
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|
additive which promotes strong teeth |
|
Nitrate/Nitrite2 (ppm) |
10 |
10 |
0.44 |
No |
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from |
||
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|
septic tanks; erosion of natural deposits |
|
Note: 1. Fluoride is added to water to help promote dental health in children. 2. Nitrate and Nitrite are measured together. |
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Lead and Copper Levels at Residential Taps |
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Substance |
MCLG |
AL |
90th Percentile |
Number of sites exceeding |
Violation |
Major Sources |
|
(Unit) |
|
|
Sample Results |
Action Level (AL) |
|
|
|
Lead3 (ppb) |
0 |
15 |
1.5 |
1 out of 50 |
No |
Corrosion of household plumbing |
|
systems; erosion of natural deposits |
|||||||
3 |
0 |
1.3 |
0.05 |
0 out of 50 |
No |
Corrosion of household plumbing |
|
Copper (ppm) |
systems; erosion of natural deposits |
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|
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|
|
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Note: 3. Gainesville is required to test a minimum of 50 homes for lead and copper every three years. The last testing occurred in 2018, and the next testing will take place in Fall 2021. Compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule is based on obtaining the 90th percentile of the total number of samples collected and comparing it against the lead and copper action levels. To have an exceedance, the 90th percentile value must be greater than 15 ppb for lead or 1.3 ppm for copper. Of the 50 homes tested in 2018, 1 site exceeded the action level (AL) for Lead. No sites exceeded the action level for Copper.
|
|
Disinfection |
|
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Substance |
MCL |
|
MCLG |
Average detected |
Range |
Violation |
Major Sources |
|
(Unit) |
|
level |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total Trihalomethanes |
80 |
|
N/A |
30* |
No |
|
||
(TTHM) (ppb)- Stage 2 |
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Haloacetic Acids |
60 |
|
N/A |
17* |
No |
|
||
(HAA5) |
|
|
||||||
Chlorite (ppm) |
1 |
|
0.8 |
0.19 |
No |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Organic |
TT |
|
N/A |
1.01 |
No |
Decay of naturally occurring organic matter |
|
|
Carbon (TOC) (ppm) |
|
in the water withdrawn from sources |
|
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Chlorine (ppm) |
MRDLG |
|
MRDLG |
1.51 |
No |
Drinking water disinfection |
|
|
4 |
|
4 |
|
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-
This number represents the highest locational running annual averages reported during 2020.
Turbidity
Substance |
MCL |
MCLG |
Highest value |
Lowest monthly % of |
Violation |
Major Sources |
|
(Unit) |
reported |
samples meeting limit |
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|
||||
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
Turbidity (NTU) |
TT =95% of |
N/A |
0.27 |
100 |
No |
Soil runoff and erosion |
|
samples < 0.3 |
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Note: 4. Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness of water. We monitor turbidity to indicate the effectiveness of our filtration system.
Microbial Contaminants
Substance |
MCL |
MCLG |
Highest % positive |
Range |
Violation |
Major Sources |
|
(Unit) |
samples (monthly) |
|
|||||
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|
|
|
|
|
||
Total Coliform Bacteria |
5% of monthly |
0 |
1% |
No |
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|
samples are + |
Average .17% |
|
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Unregulated Contaminants Table |
|
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|
|
Substance |
MCL |
MCLG |
Average detected |
Range |
Violation |
Major Sources |
|
(Unit) |
level |
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
HAA9 Group (ppb) |
N/A |
N/A |
20 |
No |
|
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|
|
|
|
Total Brominated HAAs |
N/A |
N/A |
4 |
No |
|
||
(ppb) |
|
||||||
Total Haloacetic Acids |
60 |
N/A |
16 |
No |
|
||
(ppb) |
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
Manganese |
N/A |
N/A |
2 |
No |
Naturally present in the environment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Organic Carbon |
TT |
N/A |
1.838 |
No |
Decay of naturally occurring organic matter |
|
|
(TOC) (ppm) |
in the water withdrawn from sources |
|
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|
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Note: 5. Gainesville is required to test for contaminants every 4 years. The last testing occurred in 2019, and the next testing will take place in 2023.
Hardness
Alkalinity
pH
Annual Average
- ppm
- ppm
8.45 std units
N/A: not applicable
ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter
ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter
NTU: nephelometric turbidity units, measurement of suspended material in water
Where does your Drinking Water Come From?
Lake Lanier is your source water provided by DWR. The water is pulled from the lake and treated to remove pollutants at either Riverside or Lakeside Water Treatment Plant before it is sent to your home. Lake Lanier not only provides our area’s drinking water, but it also provides opportunities for recreation, tourism, and it brings development to the area.
Protecting our Drinking Water Source
DWR is actively involved in protecting our local water resources and works with various local, state, and federal agencies on Watershed Protection issues. In 2020, the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District completed a source water assessment. The overall point source susceptibility ratings for both of Gainesville’s water treatment plants are low. This full report is now available and can be obtained by calling
Carbon to Combat Taste and Odor
Events of taste and odor can be attributed to a cycle known as "lake turnover". Lake turnover typically occurs during Spring and Fall when temperature changes alter the density of surface water causing it to switch places with the water below, "turning over" the lake's layers.
The Riverside Drive Water Treatment Plant has installed a Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) feed system. It sends activated carbon into the raw water as it is being pumped from the lake. Adsorbing taste and odor compounds is what PAC does best. It helps to keep your drinking water tasting great, removing unpleasant or bad
tastes it may have had otherwise.
Public Involvement |
Don't Flush This Opportunity |
|
|
The Department of Water Resources |
$75 Dollar Toilet Rebate Program |
welcomes public participation. Stay in |
when you replace a qualifying |
the know of upcoming workshops and |
inefficient fixture with a WaterSense |
cleanups by following us on Facebook! |
labeled toilet. |
@GainesvilleH2O |
Rebate Requirements: |
|
- Building must be built before 1993 |
|
- Old toilet is ≥ 3 gallons per flush |
|
- A ≤ 1 .1 gallons per flush WaterSense toilet is installed |
|
- Old toilets must be disposed of properly |
|
- The original receipt must accompany application |
|
- |
|
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Is my water hard or soft? Our water is generally considered soft, averaging 27 mg/L (milligrams per liter) or parts per million (ppm) for 2020. This is also about 1 ½ grains per gallon.
-
Is there fluoride in the water? Yes, fluoride is added at an average of
0.60 mg/L for the year 2020. It is sufficient to prevent tooth decay in children. No additional fluoride supplements are needed. - Can the City locate my service line? No, the City cannot enter private property to locate/mark a customer's service line.
Contaminants
Gainesville
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 140000
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 14
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chlorite
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Dichloroacetic acid
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
- Trichloroacetic acid
Other Detected Contaminants
- Chlorate
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.