Water System Number GA0510004
The City of Savannah Water Supply and Treatment department is pleased to report that your drinking water, supplied by the I&D System, meets all state and federal requirements. To learn more about safety regulations and testing, see the table included in this report.
This drinking water is then distributed to your home. The City of Savannah provides some of the most affordable drinking water in the Southeast.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revised the Lead and Copper Rules to require water utilities to complete an inventory of water service lines on the public and private side. In 2024, the inventory had to classify lines as either Not Lead, Lead, Galvanized Needing Replacement, or Unknown. Savannah’s inventory is available to the public in the form of an interactive map.
Protecting the Source
Source Water Assessment Plan: In 2002, the City of Savannah completed a Source Water Assessment Plan (SWAP) for Abercorn Creek, a tributary of the Savannah River. In 2019, a full update was completed. The purpose of updating the SWAP was to identify new potential contamination sources throughout the watershed and to determine the risks these sources pose to the water supply. Due to the rapid turnover of forest land to warehousing, the City completed a partial update in 2022. The overall contaminant susceptibility for Abercorn Creek is now MEDIUM HIGH. This is an increase from the 2002 report rating of LOW and the 2019 rating of MEDIUM. Some Potential Pollution Sources (PPS) include: commercial and industrial developments, the number of pipe and road stream crossings, and sewer lift stations and pipelines. A complete list of all PPS, their substances of concern and the assessment methods are in the SWAP and available to the public on the City of Savannah's Water Resources page.
In order to protect our drinking water supplies, the City has joined a collaboration of people interested in protecting the quality of the Savannah River for future generations and keeping drinking water affordable. The collaboration includes representatives from five water utilities in Georgia and South Carolina. It also includes representatives from the US Endowment for Forestry and Communities, The Nature Conservancy, The Georgia Conservancy, and Savannah Riverkeeper. For more information please contact Laura Walker, Water Resources Environmental Manager at (912) 651-2221 or via email.
The Importance of Forested Watersheds
Forested watersheds are an investment in our water supply. A watershed is the area of land where all the water that falls on it drains to one stream or river – every river has a watershed that runs off into it, feeding it. How the land is used in that watershed can help to determine the quality of water in the river or stream. Forests help to capture rainfall and replenish and clean our water supply. By maintaining healthy forest cover in the watersheds that feed our drinking water supply, we can help to improve the quality of the water and reduce the treatment needed to meet drinking water standards.
The I&D System draws water from Abercorn Creek, a tributary of the Savannah River. The Savannah River Watershed is 75% forested. The Savannah River Clean Water Fund was created to protect the forest and keep future water supplies viable and affordable.
Studies have found that for every 10% increase in forest cover in the drinking water source watershed, treatment and chemical costs decrease by about 20%.
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
|
Chloramine
|
Total Triahlomethanes (TTHMs)
|
Total Haloacetic Acids (THAAs)
|
Total Organic Carbon
|
Turbidity
|
Nitrate
|
Lead
|
Copper
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Probable Source
|
Water additive used to control microbes | Water additive used to control microbes | Byproduct of water chlorination | Byproduct of water chlorination | Naturally present in the environment | Soil runoff | Runoff from fertilizer use, leaching from septic tanks, sewage, or erosion of natural deposits | Corrosion of household plumbing | Corrosion of household plumbing |
|
Amount Detected
|
2.07 ppm | 2.00 ppm | 64 ppb | 46 ppb | 35-50% (Removal Required) |
99% of samples were below 0.3 NTU | 0.31 ppm | 6.4 ppb (90th Percentile) |
410 ppb (90th Percentile) |
|
Meets Drinking Water Standards
|
check | check | check | check | check | check | check | check | check |
|
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 | 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 | 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.
|
0 ppb | 0 ppb | Not applicable | 0 NTU | 0 ppm | 0 ppb | 1300 ppb | ||
|
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.
|
80 ppb | 60 ppb | Treatment technique | Treatment technique = 1 NTU or 95% of samples < 0.3 NTU | 10 ppm | ||||
|
Action Level
The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
|
15 ppb | 1300 ppb | |||||||
|
Range Detected During Reporting Year
|
0-2.07 ppm | 0-2.00 ppm | 30.2-64 ppb | 20-46 ppb | 36.36-68.38% Removal | Not applicable | 0.31 ppm | 2 samples greater than action level | No sample greater than action level |
Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring
|
Manganese
|
Bromide
|
Total Organic Carbon
|
HAA5
|
HAA6Br
|
HAA9
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Amount Detected
|
11 ppb | 34.3 ppb | 6,400 ppb | 47.4 ppb | 8.56 ppb | 55.96 ppb |
|
Range Detected During Reporting Year
|
8-11 ppb | 20.6-34.3 ppb | 3,170-6,400 ppb | 24.73-47.4 ppb | 4.6-8.56 ppb | 30.01-55.96 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:
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.
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. The City of Savannah is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials within your home plumbing and taking steps to reduce your family's risk.Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. If you are concerned about lead in your water and wish to have your water tested, contact Savannah Water Resources at (912) 651-4241 or via email. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. Information is also available on our Water & Lead page.