City of Savannah Water Resources Department

Georgetown/Gateway System

Water System Number GA0510081

The City of Savannah Water Supply and Treatment department is pleased to report that your drinking water, supplied by the Georgetown/Gateway System, meets all state and federal requirements. To learn more about safety regulations and testing, see the table included in this report.

Source

Underground water source
Drinking water for the Georgetown/Gateway System comes from the Floridan Aquifer. It is drawn from wells between 600 and 660 feet deep. In 2023, the Georgetown/Gateway System produced 820 million gallons of groundwater for a population of 15,518.
The City of Savannah has been proactive in protecting this pristine drinking water source through responsible management with a state-approved Wellhead Protection Plan and Water Conservation Plan.

Treatment

Treated water
The Floridan Aquifer is a source of drinking water for many people in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In our area, the only treatment required is the addition of a disinfectant prior to distribution.

Testing

Tested drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the amounts of certain substances allowed in public drinking water. The City of Savannah performed over 143,000 tests and procedures, on over 160 water quality parameters in 2023.

Distribution

Glass of clean drinking water
This drinking water is then distributed to your home. The City of Savannah provides some of the most affordable drinking water in the Southeast.

Drinking Water Analysis

The City has met all sampling and reporting requirements. This data was collected from January through December 2023.

Substance tested and detected
Chlorine
Fluoride
Total Triahlomethanes (TTHMs)
Toluene
Lead
Copper
Probable Source
Water additive used to control microbes Erosion of natural deposits Naturally present in the environment Discharge from petroleum factories Corrosion of household plumbing Corrosion of household plumbing
Amount Detected
1.51 ppm 0.39 ppm 2.1 ppb 0.87 ppb Not detected
(90th Percentile)
0.12 ppm
(90th Percentile)
Meets Drinking Water Standards
Maximum Disinfectant Residual Level Goal
The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health.
4 ppm
Maximum Disinfectant Residual Level Allowed
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.
4 ppm
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
The level of contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health, allowing for a margin of safety.
4 ppm 0 ppb 1,000 ppb 0 ppb 1.3 ppm
Maximum Contaminant Level Allowed
The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. This level is set as close to the goal as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
4 ppm 80 ppb 1,000 ppb
Action Level
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
15 ppb 1.3 ppm
Range Detected During Reporting Year
0.20-1.51 ppm 0.26-0.39 ppm 2.1 ppb Not detected - 0.87 ppb No sample greater than action level No sample greater than action level
Units: ppm = part per million or 1 in 1,000,000. ppb = parts per billion or 1 in 1,000,000,000.
Copper and lead are the only two substances monitored at the customer's tap. They were last sampled in 2021.
Fluoride was last sampled in 2021.

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring

Manganese
Bromide
HAA5
HAA6Br
HAA9
Amount Detected
0.59 ppb 29.7 ppb 5.13 ppb 3.45 ppb 7.93 ppb
Range Detected During Reporting Year
0.59 ppb Not detected - 29.7 ppb 0.46-5.13 ppb 0.39-3.45 ppb 0.85-7.93 ppb

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected the City of Savannah to participate in the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Regulation 3 (UCMR 3) program. Unregulated contaminants are those for which EPA has not established drinking water standards. The purpose of unregulated contaminant monitoring is to assist EPA in determining the occurrence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water and whether future regulation is warranted.

Unregulated contaminants were last sampled in 2020.

All sources of drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some substances. All water sources are fed by water that passes over the land or through the ground, dissolving naturally occurring minerals and materials, or picking up substances along the way. These substances may include:

  1. Biological substances from humans, agriculture, or wildlife sources
  2. Inorganic substances from stormwater runoff, industrial sources, or wastewater discharges
  3. Insecticides and herbicides from agriculture, stormwater runoff or residential use
  4. Organic chemicals from industrial or domestic processes, stormwater runoff, or septic systems
  5. Radioactive materials that can be naturally occurring or the result of mining or other human activities

If you have any questions regarding safe drinking water regulations or these test results, you may contact the City of Savannah Water Supply and Treatment Department at (912) 964-0698.

Health Information

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immune-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 healthcare providers.

EPA/Center for Disease control guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risks of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

The City of Savannah is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing fixtures. 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 have concerns 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 1-800-426-4791 or at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. Information is also available on our Water & Lead page.