Chatham County, Georgia — public water systems

How does Chatham County compare with other Georgia counties?

Chatham County has the 2nd-most active public water systems among the 177 counties listed for active Georgia systems in EPA records; among the 149 with 3 or more systems, the median has 10. Its systems report 347,209 people served in total, the 5th-largest county figure in the state and 3.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,993 people, about 34% below the Georgia average of 4,525. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Chatham County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Chatham County's active systems draw on groundwater (110, 95%), purchased surface water (3, 2.6%), purchased groundwater (2, 1.7%) and surface water (1, 0.9%). Overall, 97% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 3.4% on surface water, compared with 90% and 10% across Georgia. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Savannah-Main, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Chatham County?

Chatham County's active systems break down as 83 community systems (72%), 13 non-transient non-community systems (11%) and 20 transient non-community systems (17%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (74%), local government (18%), federal government (5.2%) and state government (2.6%).