What was found in Athens's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 500 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 200 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 280 µg/L — VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 90 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 32.125 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 64.183 µg/L — VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 52 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 16.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 29.15 µg/L — VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 16.95 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.935 µg/L — LEATHERMAN CREEK WATER SYSTEM · 375 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.775 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23.116 µg/L — VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 23 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.83 µg/L — LEATHERMAN CREEK WATER SYSTEM · 375 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.585 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.97 µg/L — VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 7.97 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.7435 µg/L — LEATHERMAN CREEK WATER SYSTEM · 375 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.75 µg/L 58% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 8.205 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 3.4 µg/L 170% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 2 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.496 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 2.3125 µg/L — LEATHERMAN CREEK WATER SYSTEM · 375 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 1.46 pCi/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dalapon | 1.412 µg/L 0.7% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.3322 pCi/L 27% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorobenzene | 0.4471 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.2188 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM · 3,843 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0020 mg/L — VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM · 486 people · 2024 | 3/3 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Athens
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SOUTH CLAIBORNE WATER SYSTEM | 3,843 |
| VILLAGE OF ATHENS WATER SYSTEM | 486 |
| LEATHERMAN CREEK WATER SYSTEM | 375 |
Frequently asked questions about Athens tap water
Is Athens tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving Athens. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Athens?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Athens, Louisiana to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Athens's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Athens include Copper, Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.