Is there PFAS in Columbus water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Columbus averaged 17.1 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 4.3 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Columbus
Serves 229,000 people · 8 PFOA samples from 2 sampling points · Feb 2024 to Oct 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
17.1 ppt avg · max 33.9
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
5.9 ppt avg · max 8.4
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
1.2 ppt avg · max 4.7
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
0.1 avg · max 0.5
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFBA, PFBS.
Columbus is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Columbus, Georgia, serving about 229,000 people, including Columbus, Fort Benning. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 8 times across 2 sampling points between Feb 2024 and Oct 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: NMeFOSAA, PFHpS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFTA, NEtFOSAA, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, HFPO-DA, PFTrDA, PFUnA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFMPA, PFPeS, PFNA, PFDoA, PFDA, 8:2 FTS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Georgia
All 256 tested systems in Georgia
ZIP codes served
31901 31902 31903 31904 31905 31906 31907 31908 31909 31914 31917 31993 31997 31998 31999
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Columbus water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID GA2150000. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/georgia/columbus/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID GA2150000). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
