We read 13 results from Athens Utilities Board’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit or above a health goal.
Serves about 25,851 people · Water system ID TN0000024 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorineaverage · range 0.5 to 2.2 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 1 | 1.23 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 1 | 0.28 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 20.3 to 68.6 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 1 | 36.9 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23.2 to 69.1 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 1 | 42.9 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.42 to 0.47 · AUB treatment plant · 2025 report, page 1 | 0.45 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| GenX (HFPO-DA, a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 2 · printed as 0.002 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 1 | 2 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 1 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · AUB treatment plant · 2025 report, page 1 | 1.51 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 1.1 · printed as 0.0011 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 1 | 1.1 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · range 0.02 to 0.2 · AUB treatment plant · 2025 report, page 1 | 0.2 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| PFBA (a PFAS)average · range ND to 11.6 · printed as 0.00453 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 1 | 4.53 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 4.1 · printed as 0.0029 ppb · sampled 2024 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 1 | 2.9 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumas reported · AUB treatment plant · 2025 report, page 1 | 4.8 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Athens Utilities Board’s water between Sep 2023 and Jun 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFBS11.6 pptFound in 1 of 7 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing in this report is above a health goal or legal limit. If you’re bothered by taste, smell, hardness or spots, or your home has older pipes, the filter catalog and buyer questions can help you pick, and a test of your own tap shows what your plumbing adds.
More districts: Tennessee water quality · All states · Something look wrong? Tell us