We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Georgia to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Morrow, Georgia
Morrow has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Morrow water report →Griffin, Georgia
Griffin has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Griffin water report →Woodstock, Georgia
Woodstock has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Woodstock water report →Augusta, Georgia
Augusta has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Augusta water report →Flintstone, Georgia
Flintstone has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Flintstone water report →Lexington, Georgia
Lexington has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lexington water report →Lagrange, Georgia
Lagrange has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lagrange water report →Greenville, Georgia
Greenville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Greenville water report →Columbus, Georgia
Columbus has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Columbus water report →Hamilton, Georgia
Hamilton has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hamilton water report →Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Calhoun water report →East Point, Georgia
East Point has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full East Point water report →Rome, Georgia
Rome has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rome water report →Moultrie, Georgia
Moultrie has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Moultrie water report →Dallas, Georgia
Dallas has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Dallas water report →Crawford, Georgia
Crawford has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Crawford water report →Chatsworth, Georgia
Chatsworth has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Chatsworth water report →Covington, Georgia
Covington has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Covington water report →Fayetteville, Georgia
Fayetteville has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fayetteville water report →Ringgold, Georgia
Ringgold has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ringgold water report →Eatonton, Georgia
Eatonton has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Eatonton water report →West Point, Georgia
West Point has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full West Point water report →Springfield, Georgia
Springfield has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Springfield water report →Remerton, Georgia
Remerton has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Remerton water report →Waycross, Georgia
Waycross has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Waycross water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 326 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 17 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 309 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morrow | GA | 29 | 15 | 2 | 298,374 |
| 2 | Griffin | GA | 25 | 15 | 1 | 40,430 |
| 3 | Woodstock | GA | 24 | 15 | 0 | 17,833 |
| 4 | Augusta | GA | 25 | 14 | 1 | 204,000 |
| 5 | Flintstone | GA | 23 | 14 | 1 | 36,000 |
| 6 | Lexington | GA | 20 | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Lagrange | GA | 28 | 13 | 0 | 41,852 |
| 8 | Greenville | GA | 28 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Columbus | GA | 26 | 13 | 2 | 229,000 |
| 10 | Hamilton | GA | 26 | 13 | 1 | 22,922 |
| 11 | Calhoun | GA | 24 | 13 | 2 | 53,090 |
| 12 | East Point | GA | 23 | 13 | 1 | 33,712 |
| 13 | Rome | GA | 22 | 13 | 2 | 45,586 |
| 14 | Moultrie | GA | 21 | 13 | 0 | 17,067 |
| 15 | Dallas | GA | 20 | 13 | 0 | 117,468 |
| 16 | Crawford | GA | 19 | 13 | 0 | 1,170 |
| 17 | Chatsworth | GA | 18 | 13 | 1 | 28,262 |
| 18 | Covington | GA | 28 | 12 | 0 | 74,364 |
| 19 | Fayetteville | GA | 22 | 12 | 0 | 77,051 |
| 20 | Ringgold | GA | 22 | 12 | 0 | 56,670 |
| 21 | Eatonton | GA | 22 | 12 | 0 | 11,479 |
| 22 | West Point | GA | 22 | 12 | 0 | 5,800 |
| 23 | Springfield | GA | 21 | 12 | 2 | 9,869 |
| 24 | Remerton | GA | 21 | 12 | 0 | 1,604 |
| 25 | Waycross | GA | 19 | 12 | 0 | 19,900 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Georgia?
Based on 2026 data, Morrow, GA has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
