UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Harold L. Ickes, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

W. C. Mendenhall, Director

Water-Supply Paper 912

INDUSTRIAL QUALITY OF 

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

1940

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RV "JC " BY & <

WILLIAM L. LAMAR 2.

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Prepared in cooperation with the

DIVISION OF MINES, MINING, AND GEOLOGY»OF 

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES~

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UNITED STATES

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

WASHINGTON : 1942

Forsaleby the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. ---.---.- Price 15 cents

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract___-_-__-_------___---_---_--_-_-__-----__---_----_-__-___ 1

Introduction._____________________________________________________ 2

Acknowledgments ________-__-_--_-_-_____-_--___-_________________ 4

Surface water.____________________________________________________ 4

Ground water.____________________________________________________ 5

Collection and examination of samples.______________________________ 6

Regular determinations at the filtration plant _________________________ 6

Expression of results-_____-_______-______-__-_--___________-_______ 7

Mineral constituents in solution_____________________________________ 7

Silica. ________-_______-_---_____-__-__-__-_________________ 7

Iron.________________________________________________________ 8

Manganese. _____ _____________________________________________ 9

Calcium and magnesium...--___________________________________ 9

Sodium and potassium_________________________________________ 10

Bicarbonate- _ __-___--_-___--_-_---___--_---_--___-__-_________ 11

Sulphate--__-_---___-_---_---_--_-__-_-__--_-_-_-_____-______ 11

Chloride. _-____---_-___-_--__---_-______----_--_______--_-____ 12

Fluoride___-__-_______-_-___-__-__-___--_-__-___-__-________ 12

Nitrate____-_-___-_---__----_---_____--_-_-_________________ 13

Total dissolved solids__________________________________________ 14

Constituents not reported_____.________________________________ 15

Free acid._-__________--_-----___-___--__-.-______________ 15

Aluminum, copper, and zinc__ ______________________________ 15

Properties and characteristics of water.______________________________ 16

Hydrogen-ion concentration (pH)_ ____________________________ 16

Corrosiveness _________________________________________________ 16

Color. ____________________-___-______--________________ 18

Taste and odor________________________________________________ 18

Temperature. _____^______________________ _ _____________.______ 19

Suspended matter and turbidity_________________________________ 20

Hardness.____________________________________________________ 22

Distribution of hardness_-_-----_--___---__-_----___-__-________ 23

Water purification_________________________________________________ 27

Softening__ __________________________________________________ 29

Georgia public water supplies______-____________-______________-____ 31

Descriptions and analyses _ _____________________________________ 31

ILLUSTRATION

FIGURE 1. Hardness of public water supplies in Georgia_______________ 25

m

INDUSTRIAL QUALITY OF PUBLIC WATER 

SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA, 1940

By WILLIAM L. LAMAR

ABSTRACT

Information relating to the chemical characteristics of public water supplies 

is essential to the location of many industries and to a better and more economical 

use of the water by industries and domestic consumers. The 66 public water 

supplies described in this report serve places with a total population of 1,098,819, 

which is 35.2 percent of the population of the State. All or nearly all the water 

for half of these supplies is obtained from surface sources and that for the other 

half is obtained from underground sources. Practically all the surface supplies 

included in this report are in the Appalachian Highlands and nearly all the supplies from wells are in the Coastal Plain. The surface supplies serve 759,784 

consumers and the ground supplies serve 339,035 consumers. By far the larger 

number of people in the State, however, use ground water as most of the smaller 

public supplies and nearly all the individual supplies are obtained from underground sources.

For each of the public supplies data are given on the ownership, source, treatment, storage, and distribution of the water. A total of 157 complete mineral 

analyses are given showing the chemical character of the water at each place. At 

places where the water receives chemical treatment other than chlorination, 

analyses are given for both the raw and the finished water.

There is some variation in the composition of the surface waters during the year, 

but for most of them the mineral content is low at all times. For only a few of 

the surface supplies will the maximum concentration of dissolved solids exceed 

100 parts per million. The total mineral content exceeds 100 parts per million 

for all but a few of the ground waters, being in general between 100 and 200 parts 

per million. For some supplies it exceeds 200 parts per million. The extremes 

in total dissolved solids for the ground waters as furnished to consumers were 

24 and 1,030 parts per million.

Silica and bicarbonate account for more than half of the mineral content of the 

raw surface waters. The use of alum in the coagulation of the surface waters 

increases the sulphate at the expense of the bicarbonate, but usually the bicarbonate is brought back or even increased by the final adjustment of pH. For many 

of the ground waters calcium and magnesium bicarbonates and silica make up 

nearly all of the mineral matter. Some of the well waters, particularly those in 

the southern and southeastern parts of the Coastal Plain, also contain appreciable 

quantities of sulphate.

The analyses of the surface waters show that the raw waters contain very little 

iron and that most of the small amount present has been removed in the process

1
2 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

of treatment. However, as the coagulated surface waters are generally corrosive, 

the treated waters would dissolve iron from mains and service pipes but for the 

fact that most of them receive final adjustment of pH (hydrogen-ion concentration) to inhibit corrosion. The analyses of the ground waters show that generally 

in those in which the iron or manganese content was sufficient to cause trouble 

it has been removed by the treatment. Only a few of the ground waters as furnished to consumers are corrosive enough to dissolve troublesome quantities of 

iron.

Most of the streams used as sources for the larger public water supplies in Georgia furnish soft water at all times. The analyses given in this report show that 

for only two places did the hardness of the finished surface waters exceed 60 parts 

per million. The ground waters are generally appreciably harder than the surface waters, the hardness of all but a few of the ground-water supplies baing in 

the range of 60 to 200 parts per million. The extremes in hardness for the ground 

waters as furnished to consumers were 12 and 621 parts per million. The hardest 

ground waters contain in addition to carbonate hardness some noncarbonate hardness due to calcium sulphate.

The hardness of the water furnished by each of the public supplies is given in 

table 2 and is also shown graphically on plate 1, on which the cities are shown by 

symbols corresponding to four groups of hardness. Table 3 shows the number of 

consumers using water of different degrees of hardness and indicates that by far the 

largest number receive water in the range of hardness of 1 to 60 parts per million.

The average hardness of the water furnished consumers by the 66 public water 

supplies is 29 parts per million for the 33 surface supplies, 123 parts per million 

for the 33 ground supplies, and 77 parts per million for all supplies. For these 

averages each city is considered a unit, regardless of its size. The weighted average 

hardness of all supplies considered is 53 parts per million.

INTRODUCTION

Information relating to the chemical characteristics of public water 

supplies is essential to the location of many industries and to a better 

and more economical use of the water by both industries and domestic 

consumers. Knowledge of the chemical quality of public water supplies is of particular aid in the satisfactory distribution of many commodities. In order to make available needed data on the chemical 

quality of water furnished to consumers by the larger public supplies 

in the State of Georgia, a study was made by the Geological Survey 

of the United States Department of the Interior in cooperation with 

the Georgia Division of Mines, Mining, and Geology. This report 

gives data for 66 of the larger public water supplies in Georgia, which 

furnish a total population of 1,098,819, or 35.2 percent of the population of the State, according to the census of 1940. The report includes 

all cities which were shown in the 1930 census to have as many as 

2,500 inhabitants.

The sources of the larger public water supplies in Georgia largely 

fall into one or the other of two classifications, corresponding to the 

two major physiographic regions. Practically all the surface supplies 

considered in this report are in the Appalachian Highlands, which lie 

to the north of an irregular line passing through the cities of Augusta,
INTRODUCTION 6

Macon, and Columbus. Nearly all the supplies from wells are in the 

Coastal Plain, which is south of the line bounding the Appalachian 

Highlands.

The public water supplies were visited by the writer, who obtained 

information directly from the waterworks officials, and samples were 

collected and sent to the water-resources laboratory of the Geological 

Survey, at Washington, for analysis. The waterworks officials in 

Georgia cooperated to the fullest extent and were very helpful in 

furnishing the descriptive data that were needed. Getting accurate 

information on wells, such as depth, diameter, and date drilled, presented about the most difficult problem. In some places records were 

either not kept or were not available, and the data were given from 

memory. An attempt was made to check and correct, whenever possible, any of the descriptive material that appeared to be questionable. 

For many of the wells the figures given for depth, diameter, and date 

drilled are undoubtedly correct, but for others they are probably only 

approximate.

The text of this report follows in a general way the plan of a report 

by the Geological Survey on the industrial quality of the larger public 

water supplies in the United States. 1 The material given under the 

heading "Descriptions and analyses" was prepared according to one 

or the other of two general plans. For the surface-water supplies the 

following information was usually obtained:

1. Ownership.

2. Places and population supplied.

3. Source or sources.

4. Proportion of supply from each source.

5. Complete description of treatment process.

6. Rated capacity of filtration plant.

7. Capacity of raw-water reservoirs.

8. Capacity of finished-water reservoirs, elevated tanks, and standpipes.

9. Location of filtration plant and intake. 

10. Brief description of distribution system.

For the well supplies the following information was usually obtained:

1. Ownership.

2. Places and population supplied.

3. Wells.

(a) Well number.

(b) Location.

(c) Depth and diameter.

(d) Date drilled.

(e) Yield.

(/) Proportion of supply from each well.

(g) Temperature of water.

i Collins, W. D., Lamar, W. L., and Lohr, E. W., The industrial utility of public water supplies in the 

United States, 1932: U. 8. Qeol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 658,1934.
4 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

4. Complete description of treatment process.

5. Capacity of storage reservoirs, elevated tanks, and standpipes.

6. Brief description of distribution system.

The 66 public water supplies included in this report are arranged 

alphabetically by the names of the cities. For each place data are 

given on the ownership, source of supply, treatment, storage, and distribution of the water. Complete mineral analyses are given for each 

supply. For the surface supplies analyses are given of both the raw 

and the finished waters. In surface supplies the mineral content of 

the water will vary during the year; however, with only a few exceptions the mineral content and hardness of these waters are low at all 

times. At several places the chemical treatment applied to the water 

was not regulated quite so well as it might be, with resulting variation 

in the composition of the finished water.

For underground waters receiving no chemical treatment other 

than sterilization, analyses are given for the individual wells and 

springs; where chemical treatment other than sterilization was applied, 

analyses of both the raw and the finished waters are given. For an 

artesian well a single analysis is usually representative of the composition of its water throughout the year. The composition of mixed 

'water from several wells will depend upon the mineral content of the 

individual wells and upon the extent to which each well is used.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This investigation was made possible through the cooperation of 

Capt. Garland Peyton, director of the Georgia Division of Mines, 

Mining, and Geology, and Mr. W. H. Weir, associate director of 

public health engineering of the Georgia Department of Public 

Health. Mr. N. M. de Jarnette and other public health officials in 

Georgia furnished information and assistance. The waterworks 

officials in Georgia contributed much of the descriptive material that 

is given for each public supply.

SURFACE WATER

Half of the 66 public supplies discussed are obtained from surface 

sources. Included in these 33 supplies, however, are a supply that 

obtains a small part of its water from a well and another that obtains 

a small part from a spring. The surface supplies are used by a population of 759,784, which is 69.1 percent of the total population served 

by the supplies included in this report. All the surface waters are 

coagulated, filtered, and chlorinated, and to most of them some final 

treatment is applied to adjust the pH to prevent corrosion. The 

surface waters are usually lower in mineral content and softer than 

the ground waters, and they are also generally more corrosive unless 

sufficient final adjustment of pH has been maintained to prevent it.
GROUND WATER 5

A report published in 1909 2 gives series of analyses of composites 

of daily samples collected over a period of a year for six rivers in 

Georgia. A report is now being prepared by the Geological Survey 

of the United States Department of the Interior in cooperation with 

the Georgia Division of Mines, Mining, and Geology on the chemical 

character of surface waters of Georgia.

GROUND WATER

The ground-water supplies include those of 25 places that obtain 

all or most of their supply from artesian wells in the Coastal Plain; 

6 places that obtain from about 12 percent to all of their supply from 

wells in the Appalachian Highlands; and 6 places that obtain from 

20 percent to all of their supply from springs. These supplies are 

used by a population of 339,035, which is 30.9 percent of the total 

population served by all the supplies included in this report. By 

far the largest number of people in the State, however, use ground 

water, as most of the smaller water departments get their supplies 

from ground-water sources, and nearly all the people not furnished 

by a public supply use ground water.

Most of the larger ground-water supplies are chlorinated; two are 

softened and a few receive treatment to prevent corrosion or to remove 

iron or iron and manganese.

The ground waters in Georgia are generally higher in mineral content and harder than the surface waters. The artesian-well water 

in the Coastal Plain is generally considered less corrosive than the 

surface water that has not received sufficient final adjustment of pH. 

Many of the artesian waters in the Coastal Plain contain some hydrogen sulphide, which may contribute to a small amount of corrosion. 

There are some soft well waters in the Coastal Plain just below the 

fall line, and some well waters from rock fractures in the Appalachian 

Highlands that are naturally corrosive. A few of the well waters 

carry objectionable quantities of iron or iron and manganese in 

solution.

Previous publications by the Geological Survey of Georgia 8 give 

information on the underground waters of Georgia. A report published in 1915 * gives analyses of and information on the public water 

supplies using underground waters in the Coastal Plain of Georgia.

8 Dole, R. B., The quality of surface waters in the United States: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply 

Paper 236,1909.

8 McCallle, S. W., Artesian-well system of Georgia: Georgia Geol. Survey Bull. 7, 1898; Underground 

waters of Georgia: Georgia Geol. Survey Bull. 15,1908; Mineral springs of Georgia; Georgia Geol. Survey 

Bull. 20,1913.

4 Stephenson, L. W. and Veatch, J. O., Underground waters of the Coastal Plain of Georgia: U. S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 341,1915.

449166 42 2
QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

COLLECTION AND EXAMINATION OF SAMPLES

Most of the samples were collected in gallon pyrex bottles by the 

writer. For most of the underground supplies a separate small sample was collected for the iron determination, and for a few another 

sample was collected for the manganese determination. Considerable care was taken to collect representative samples.

The complete mineral analyses were made by the methods in general use.5 Table 1 shows that 150 of the 157 complete analyses were 

made in the water-resources laboratory of the Geological Survey, 

United States Department of the Interior. Seven of the older 

analyses were taken from the report published in 1934 6 on the larger 

public water supplies in the United States. Of the analyses given in 

the present report 96 were made by Arthur T. Ness, 17 by Wesley M. 

Noble, and 29 by the writer. The analyses include 7 average analyses 

which are based on averages from 226 single analyses.

TABLE 1. Sources of analyses used in this report

Laboratory

Geological Survey: 

Made for this re 

Made for other r

Analyses

Surface

162 

8 

2

72

Well

70 

4 

5

79

Spring

6 

0 

0

6

Total

138 

12 

7

157

1 Includes one analysis of mixed surface and spring water. 

BEGULAB DETEBMINATIONS AT THE FILTBATION PLANT

In connection with the purification of waters many of the waterworks laboratories in Georgia make daily determinations of alkalinity, 

pH, turbidity, temperature, carbon dioxide, and residual free chlorine 

and also daily bacteriological tests. A regular monthly report of 

the results is furnished to the Georgia Department of Public Health. 

Average, maximum, and minimum results for alkalinity, pH, turbidity, and temperature were compiled for this report by N. M. 

de Jarnette of the Georgia Department of Public Health. Raw-water 

results represent the water as delivered to the filtration plant, and 

finished-water results represent the water as delivered to the mains 

by the filtration plant. Usually the water was supplied to the filtration plant from raw-water storage or settling reservoirs. This storage 

decreased the turbidity and particularly the heavier suspended matter

' Collins, W. D., Notes on practical water analysis: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 596, pp. 235- 

261,1928. Am. Public Health Assoc. and Am. Water Works Assoc., Standard methods for the examination 

of water and sewage, 8th ed., 1936.

' Collins, W. D., Lamar, W. L., and Lohr, E. W., The industrial utility of public water supplies in the 

United States, 1932: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 658, pp. 54-55,1934.
MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION 7

carried by the stream. Storage in rather shallow reservoirs would 

affect the temperature of the water to some extent.

The results for alkalinity, pH, turbidity, and temperature show the 

variation in some of the characteristics of the surface waters during 

the year. The results for alkalinity are generally a good index to the 

variation in total mineral content of the raw surface waters. No 

results are given for the turbidity of the finished water, as practically 

all water served to consumers by filtration plants is free of noticeable 

turbidity. Temperature determinations were made only on the raw 

water as delivered to the filtration plant.

EXPRESSION OF RESULTS

The analyses are reported in parts per million and for manganese, 

calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulphate, 

chloride, fluoride, and nitrate the equivalents per million are also 

given. Under "Regular determinations at the filtration plant" 

alkalinity is expressed in parts per million in terms of calcium carbonate, pH and turbidity are expressed in units (see "pH" p. 16 and 

"Turbidity" p. 20), and temperature is reported in degrees Fahrenheit.

MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION

The complete analyses given for each public supply include results 

for silica, iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium (or sodium and potassium 

as sodium), potassium, bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride, fluoride, 

nitrate, and total dissolved solids. In several analyses results for 

manganese are also given. Each of these constituents is discussed in 

the text that follows.

SILICA

Silica (SiO2) is dissolved from practically all rock materials. Its 

state in natural waters is not definitely known, but in reports of 

analyses it is assumed to be in the colloidal state, taking no part in 

the equilibrium between acids and bases. The extent to which silica 

is dissolved in water depends upon the condition of the silica in the 

rock material, time of contact, and the composition of the water. 

The more alkaline waters have a tendency to take more silica in solution [than the less alkaline waters. Water stored in a poor-grade 

soft-glass bottle will dissolve silica from the bottle.7

With the increasing use of modern high-pressure boiler plants silica 

is probably now considered the most troublesome constituent in a 

boiler-feed water. The hard silica scale prevents the rapid transfer 

of heat, causing local overheating and the resulting boiler-tube failure. 

With low-pressure boilers the main objection to silica is its tendency

7 Collins, W. D., and Riffenburg, H. B., Contamination of water samples with material dissolved from 

glass containers: Ind. and Eng. Chemistry, vol. 15, pp. 48-49,1923.
8 QUALITY OP WATER SUPPLIES IN GEOBGIA

to form scale and to cement other materials into a hard, troublesome 

scale, causing loss in heat transfer. Hard scale is formed from some 

waters that have been completely softened by the use of zeolites. 

Silica is not-removed by the treatment and a small amount of silica 

may be added to the water by solution of a siliceous zeolite. However, outside of its effect on high-pressure boiler plants silica is of 

comparatively little importance.

The analyses show that the silica content of the surface waters 

ranged from about 5 to 30 parts per million, with an average of about 

12 parts per million. In general, the silica content of the well waters 

is appreciably higher than that of the surface waters. The analyses 

show that the silica content of the well waters ranged from about 5 

to 60 parts per million and that the silica content of the spring waters 

was less than 10 parts per million.

IRON

Iron (Fe) is dissolved from practically all soils and rocks and frequently from iron pipes. Soft waters low in mineral content and 

other waters of low pH will dissolve iron from iron pipes and particularly from hot-water lines and boilers. Most natural surface waters 

and many ground waters previous to their contact with iron pipes 

do not contain objectionable quantities of iron, though some natural 

ground waters do contain troublesome quanties of iron.

Water furnished to consumers should not contain more than about 

0.2 part per million of iron. Water that contains much more than 

this amount of iron is not suitable on account of the appearance of 

"'red water," or reddish-brown sediment caused by the oxidation of 

the iron. The iron will make stains on white porcelain or enameled 

ware and fixtures and on clothing or other fabrics. Many industrial 

plants, including those manufacturing and preparing foods, carbonated 

beverages, beer, textiles, dyed fabrics, high-grade paper, and ice, 

must have a water practically free from iron.

Iron is almost completely removed by the coagulation and filtration practiced at water-purification plants, but coagulation with alum 

leaves the water in such condition that it can and does dissolve iron 

from pipes unless some final treatment is applied to prevent corrosion. 

For most of the filtered waters for which analyses are given in this 

report the pH of the water is adjusted to prevent corrosion by the 

addition of lime, and at several places soda ash is used.

The analyses of the surface waters show that the raw water contained very little iron and that most of any small amount originally 

present was removed by the treatment process. Because the analyses 

of the finished water show the composition of water as delivered by 

the filtration plants, the analyses do not indicate the possible iron
MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION 9

content of the water received by the consumer for the surface water 

supplies that received no pH adjustment or insufficient pH adjustment to prevent corrosion.

The analyses show that most of the ground waters are not corrosive 

and do not contain troublesome quantities of iron. At College Park, 

Dublin, East Point, and Thomasville iron is removed by treating 

the water, and at Fort Valley the soft well water is aerated and treated 

with lime to prevent corrosion.

MANGANESE

Manganese (Mn) is dissolved from soils and rock materials. Surface-water supplies in large reservoirs may contain manganese that 

has been dissolved from the mud on the bottom of the reservoir by 

the action of carbon dioxide produced by anaerobic fermentation of 

organic matter. Sudden and periodic appearance of manganese is 

typical of its occurrence in surface waters from large reservoirs. 

When a ground-water supply contains objectionable quantities of 

manganese it usually contains, also, troublesome quantities of iron. 

The occurrence of manganese in waters used for public supply is not 

nearly as general as the occurrence of iron. Results for manganese 

are given in the tables of analyses for only a few supplies.

Manganese has about the same objectionable qualities a.6 iron 

but causes a dark-brown to black stain instead of the reddish-brown 

stain due to iron. Manganese may be more troublesome than iron 

hi that it is less readily oxidized and removed by ordinary methods 

of water treatment unless special attention is given to the treatment 

for the removal of manganese.8 Manganese precipitated on filter 

beds is at times again taken in solution in the finished water.

CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM

Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are dissolved from many rocks. 

Calcium may be dissolved in large quantities from limestone, which is 

essentially calcium carbonate. Although calcium carbonate is only 

very slightly soluble in pure water, many waters flowing through 

calcareous deposits dissolve large quantities of calcium carbonate 

because they contain an excess of carbon dioxide, which produces a 

soluble calcium bicarbonate. Gypsum calcium sulphate is also an 

important source of calcium in some waters. * Magnesium may be 

dissolved from dolomite and dolomitic limestones. Sea water contains 

large quantities of magnesium, and therefore water contaminated 

with sea water or flowing through deposits of sea salts may contain 

considerable quantities of magnesium.

8 Hopkins, E. 8., Water purification control, 2d ed., pp. 30-32, Williams & Wilkins Co., 1936.-
10 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Calcium and magnesium cause hardness in water (see "Hardness" 

p. 22 and "Distribution of hardness" p. 23) which is most universally 

recognized as a cause of trouble in water in both domestic and industrial uses. The general industrial value of waters used for public 

supplies is more affected by calcium and magnesium than by any other 

constituents.

In all supplies examined, with the exception of several in the northwestern part of the State, the calcium content of the raw surface 

waters was below 10 parts per million generally below 5 parts per 

million and the magnesium content was lower than the calcium. 

Lime used to aid coagulation, and particularly when used in the final 

adjustment of pH, increases the calcium content of the finished waters.

On the whole, the ground waters contain considerably more calcium, 

and some of them considerably more magnesium, than the surface 

waters. A few of the well waters that contain considerable calcium 

contain only very small amounts of magnesium. The analyses of the 

ground waters show a minimum calcium content of 1.1 parts per million. For the ground waters as delivered to consumers the extremes 

in calcium were about 4 and 132 parts per million.

SODIUM AND POTASSIUM

Sodium (Na) and potassium (K) are dissolved from practically all 

rocks and soils, but they make up only a small part of the dissolved 

mineral matter of the public water supplies given in this report. As 

sea water is largely a solution of common salt (sodium chloride), considerable quantities of sodium may be found in water contaminated 

with sea water or in water that flows through deposits of sea salts. 

In semiarid regions sodium may be dissolved in large quantities 

from soils and alkali deposits. Ground waters obtained from the 

deeper formations are likely to contain more sodium than those obtained from the upper water-bearing strata. The quantity of potassium present in a natural water is generally comparatively small. 

As moderate quantities of sodium and potassium have no effect on 

the suitability of water for domestic and practically all industrial 

uses, the amounts of these constituents in the larger public supplies 

of Georgia are of no particular significance.

The analyses show that the sodium and potassium together were 

generally below 10 parts per million. The maximum sodium content 

found in the most highly mineralized water was 69 parts per million 

and the maximum potassium content was 5.6 parts per million. Soda 

ash (sodium carbonate), used in the treatment of a few of the waters, 

increases the sodium content of the finished water.
MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION 11

BICARBONATE

Bicarbonate (HCO3) in natural waters results from the action that 

the carbon dioxide dissolved in the water has on carbonate rocks. A 

few natural waters contain carbonate (CO3), but generally its presence 

in samples is the result of the action of the water on the sample bottles or of previous treatment of the water. In the tables of analyses 

the figure for bicarbonate includes the equivalent carbonate if any 

carbonate was present in the water. If the carbonate content of a 

water was over 5 parts per million, the quantity is indicated in a footnote unless it was reasonably certain that the carbonate was due to 

a change in composition of the water after collection of the sample.

It is standard practice for filtration-plant laboratories to report 

bicarbonate and carbonate in terms of alkalinity expressed as calcium 

carbonate (CaCO3). For a number of the surface-water supplies for 

which alkalinity determinations were made regularly at the waterworks laboratories the range and average of these results are given 

for a period of a year for both the raw and the finished water under 

the heading "Regular determinations at the filtration plant." One 

part of alkalinity as CaCO3 corresponds to 1.22 parts of bicarbonate.

Bicarbonate is the principal acid radicle in nearly all the waters 

used by the public supplies in this report.

SULPHATE

Sulphate (SO4) is dissolved from rocks and soils and especially from 

material containing gypsum (CaSO4). Some sulphate in the Georgia 

waters is derived from the oxidation of sulphides. In semiarid regions sulphate may be dissolved from alkali deposits of sodium sulphate. Sulphate in hard water will form a hard, adhering boiler scale 

and may influence the choice of the method of treatment for boiler 

feed water. Calcium and magnesium sulphates in hard water may 

also influence the choice of the method of softening, and they will add 

to the cost of softening if the more troublesome noncarbonate hardness is removed by the lime-soda process.

The sulphate content of the raw surface waters was below 10 parts 

per million, and generally it was below 5 parts per million. The sulphate content of the raw surface waters will vary throughout the year 

and at Rossville it is likely to reach a maximum above 10 parts per 

million. The use of alum (aluminum sulphate) as a coagulant increases the sulphate content of the finished waters. The sulphate 

content of the finished surface waters ranged from 5.2 to 34 parts per 

million. The variation in sulphate content of the finished water is 

more likely to be caused by the treatment than by the variation of 

sulphate in the rSw water.
12 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses of the ground waters show that generally the sulphate 

content was below 20 parts per million. For a small proportion of the 

wells the sulphate ranged from 20 to 100 parts per million. At East 

Point the sulphate content of well 5 was 239 parts per million, and at 

Cairo the sulphate content of the public-supply well was 522 parts per 

million. In the Coastal Plain the sulphate content of the artesian 

well waters was below 20 parts per million, except in the southern 

and southeastern parts where the higher sulphates were found. Analyses of other artesian supplies in southeastern part of the Coastal 

Plain, not given in this report, also show higher sulphates.

CHLORIDE

Chloride (Cl) is dissolved in small quantities from rock materials, 

and in semiarid regions it may be dissolved in large quantities from 

the soil. Sewage and industrial wastes may increase the chloride content of surface waters. Waters that have become contaminated with 

sea water or that come in contact with sea salts laid down with sedimentary rocks are likely to contain considerable chloride, as sodium 

chloride (common salt) is the abundant constituent of sea water.

Appreciable quantities of chloride in equilibrium with calcium or 

magnesium may increase the corrosiveness of a water. However, the 

chloride in the water of the public supplies discussed in this report 

has little significance in the domestic and industrial use of the water.

The analyses show the chloride content of the surface waters to 

be very low, being below 5 parts per million, except in two of the waters, 

in which it was between 10 and 12 parts per million. The chloride 

content of the surface waters varies during the year, and at Rossville 

it may reach a maximum of more than 30 parts per million. In 

general, the chloride content of the ground waters was below 5 parts 

per million. In only one supply, that of Cairo, did the chloride content 

of the underground water exceed 20 parts per million; there it was 75 

parts per million.

FLTJORIDE

Fluoride (F) has been reported as present in rocks 9 to about the 

same extent as chloride. However, the quantity present in natural 

waters is very much less than that of chloride. The analyses of the 

surface waters do not show more than 0.2 part per million of nuoride, 

and it seems unlikely that any of the surface waters in Georgia naturally contain much more. None of the underground waters were found 

to contain more than 0.5 part per million of nuoride. In the United 

States there are regional concentrations of nuoride, and well waters 

in some areas are likely to contain as much as 10 or 15 parts per million

 Shepherd, E. 8., Note on the fluoride content of rocks and ocean-bottom samples: Am. Jour. Sci., vol. 

238, pp. 117-128,1940.
MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION 13

of fluoride. Deep-well waters and sodium waters are more likely to 

contain harmful quantities of fluoride than calcium bicarbonate waters. 

Fluoride in water is known to be associated with the dental defect 

known as mottled enamel if the water is used for drinking and cooking 

during calcification or formation of the teeth. Dr. H. T. Dean, 10 of 

the United States Public Health Service, has reported as follows:

In surveys made of cities having the requisities for quantitative evaluation and 

even where these requisites are closely approximate, there is a definite quantitative relation between the fluoride concentration and the clinical effect. Although 

a prognosis with respect to any one individual is obviously unwarranted, it is felt 

that a prognosis relative to the group response to waters of varying fluoride concentration may be tentatively made at this time. From the continuous use of 

water containing about 1 part per million, it is probable that the very mildest 

forms of mottled enamel may develop in about 10 percent of the group. In 

waters containing 1.7 or 1.8 parts per million, the incidence may be expected to 

rise to 40 or 50 percent, although the percentage distribution of severity would be 

largely of the "very mild" and "mild" types. At 2.5 parts per million an incidence 

of about 75 to 80 percent might be expected, with possibly 20 to 25 percent of all 

cases falling into the "moderate" or a severer type. A scattering few may show 

the "moderately severe" type.

At 4 parts per million the incidence is, in general, in the neighborhood of 90 

percent, and as a rule 35 percent or more of the children are generally classified as 

"moderate" or worse. In concentrations of 6 parts per million or higher ail 

incidence of 100 percent is not unusual.

The teeth of children, only, are endangered, as normally formed 

teeth have not been known to become mottled later, regardless of the 

fluoride content of the drinking water. Teeth having mottled enamel 

erupt showing a dull chalky white, which in man}7 cases later takes on 

a characteristic dark-brown stain.

A report published in 1941 u by the United States Public Health 

Service points to fluoride in water as a factor in partially inhibiting 

dental caries. From the data now available it appears that the dental 

caries inhibitory factor, presumably present in water and probably 

fluoride, is operative when the fluroide content of the water is not 

sufficient to cause permanent disfigurement from mottled enamel.

NITRATE

Nitrate (NO3) is a relatively unimportant constituent of the waters 

used for the public supplies discussed in this report. Nitrate may 

indicate previous contamination by sewage or other organic matter, 

as it represents the final stage of oxidation in the nitrogen cycle.

For most of the supplies examined the nitrate was less than 1 part 

per million. Several of the surface waters show a nitrate content

«" Dean, H. T., Chronic endemic dental fluorosis: Am.- Medical Assoc. Jour., vol. 107, pp. 1269-1272,1936. 

» Dean, H. T., Ja^^.phUip, Arnold, F. A. Jr., and Elvove, Elias, Domestic water and dental caries: 

Public Health Reports, vol. 56, pp. 761-792,1941.

449166 42 3
14 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

between 1 and 2 parts per million, and for a few of the surface supplies 

the nitrate at times will be above 2 parts per million. Onty three of 

the artesian well waters in the Coastal Plain show more than 2 parts 

per million of nitrate. Some of the wells in the Appalachian Highlands show a higher nitrate content, the highest being 28 parts per 

million for well 18 at Marietta. The nitrate content of the spring 

waters ranged froir 2.2 to 10 parts per million.

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS

Total dissolved solids, the residue on evaporation, consists mainly 

of the dissolved mineral constituents in the water. A little organic 

matter and water of crystallization are sometimes included. The 

quantity of total solids is determined by evaporating a given quantity 

of water and weighing the residue after it has been dried at 180° C. 

In drying, the bicarbonate is changed to carbonate, as carbon dioxide 

is given off. In calculating the quantity of dissolved solids (sum of 

mineral constituents), the figure for bicarbonate is divided by 2.03 

to account for the conversion of bicarbonate to carbonate, and the 

quantities of carbonate and all other mineral constituents are added. 

The sum of the mineral constituents as compared with the total dissolved solids 12 obtained by evaporation may often be either low or 

high, depending upon the type of water. For calcium sulphate waters 

the dissolved solids may contain water of crystallization; waters containing appreciable chloride may lose weight on drying. For magnesium bicarbonate waters the sum of the mineral constituents is 

likely to be higher than the figure for total dissolved solids. Some of 

the soft surface waters that originate iri the eastern and sou them parts 

of the Coastal Plain of Georgia are highly colored and, due to quantities of organic matter, show very little agreement between total 

dissolved solids by evaporation and the sum of the mineral constituents. However, none of these colored surface waters are used by 

the larger public supplies. For the analyses in this report the figure 

for total dissolved solids may be taken as representative of the total of 

the dissolved mineral constituents in the water.

Watery with less than 500 parts per million of dissolved solids are 

satisfactory for domestic and most industrial uses, except for difficulties resulting from hardness and from objectionable minor constituents, such as iron, manganese, and fluoride. Waters with niore than 

1,000 parts per million of dissolved solids are likely to contain enough 

of certain constituents to make them unsuitable for many domestic 

and industrial uses.

The to 

the year,

;al dissolved solids of the surface waters will vary throughout 

and at a few places at times of maximum concentration the

"Howard, O. S., Determination of total dissolved solids in water analysis: Ind. and Eng. Chemistry, 

Anal. Ed., vol. 5, pp. 4-6,1933.
MINERAL CONSTITUENTS IN SOLUTION 15

quantity of dissolved solids will exceed 100 parts per million. The 

analyses of the raw surface waters show that the concentration of total 

dissolved solids was below 100 parts per million in all but one public 

supply, that of Dalton, in which it was 131 parts per million. Softening of the water at Dalton, however, reduced the total dissolved solids 

in the finished water to 61 parts per million. The total dissolved 

solids of the finished surface waters will vary throughout the year, 

due to variations in the constituents naturally present and to variations in the treatment of the water. At several places the treatment 

of the water may, at times, raise the total dissolved solids above 100 

parts per million.

The total dissolved solids was above 100 parts per million for all 

but a few of the ground waters, being in general between 100 and 200 

parts per million. In some waters it was above 200 parts per million. 

The extremes of total dissolved solids in the ground waters were raw 

water 19 and finished water 24 parts per million at Fort Valley and 

1,030 parts per million at Cairo.

CONSTITUENTS NOT REPORTED

Free acid. The waters used by the public supplies given in this 

report do not contain any free acid. In certain coal mining and industrial areas, however, some waters do contain free acid. Pyrites 

occur in most veins of bituminous coal, and by their oxidation free 

sulphuric acid is formed. The effect of acid mine water discharging 

into streams may range from merely a decrease in alkalinity of the 

water to an appreciably acid water.

Aluminum, copper, and zinc. Small quantities of aluminum, 

copper, and zinc may be found in some public water supplies, but the 

quantities are normally too small to have any effect on the domestic 

and industrial use of the water. At a few small filtration plants where 

the treatment is not regulated sufficiently well at all times there may, 

on some occasions, be small amounts of residual aluminum in the 

filtered water. In recent years there has been a great increase in the 

use of red brass and copper pipe. Aggressively corrosive waters will 

dissolve copper and cause a troublesome green stain. A large part 

of the zinc found in tap waters results from the solution by the water 

of the zinc coating on galvanized pipes and water tanks and by the 

action of corrosive water on brass pipe. (See "Corrosiveness," p. 16.) 

However, some natural waters, in areas where they come in contact 

with zinc ores, as in zinc mining regions, are likely to contain more 

zinc 13 than is commonly realized.

18 Bartow, Edward, and Weigle, O. M., Zinc in water supplies: Ind. and Eng. Chemistry, vol. 24, pp. 

463-465, 1932.
16 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER 

HYDROGEN-ION CONCENTRATION (pH)

The degree of acidity or alkalinity of a water as indicated by the 

hydrogen-ion concentration u is of importance with reference to 

corrosiveness and the proper treatment for coagulation. The hydrogen-ion concentration is commonly reported as pH.

Technically pH is the logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen-ion 

concentration in gram atoms per liter, but simply it is merely a number 

denoting the degree of acidity or alkalinity. A pH value of 7.0 

represents neutrality, which means that the water is neither acid nor 

alkaline. Values higher than 7.0 denote increasing alkalinity; values 

lower than 7.0 denote increasing acidity.

It has been general practice to determine pH almost as soon as the 

samples are collected. Values for pH are not given in the tables of 

analyses because the samples were shipped to Washington and the 

analyses were not made as promptly as is required for satisfactory pH 

results. For a number of the surface water supplies for which pH 

determinations were made regularly at the waterworks laboratories 

the range and average of these results are given for a period of a year 

for both raw and finished water under the heading "Regular determinations at the filtration plant."

For all but a small proportion of the surface supplies and for several 

of the well supplies the pH of the finished water is adjusted to inhibit 

corrosion. At nearly all of the filtration plants not practicing final 

pH adjustment, lime or soda ash is generally added with the alum 

in the coagulation of the water, and the pH is not lowered as much as 

it would be if alum alone were used for coagulation.

CORROSIVENESS

Water furnished by a public supply to domestic and industrial 

users should be noncorrosive to the extent that it will not aggressively 

attack and destroy metal surfaces and cause trouble by the appearance 

of "red water." The disadvantages of iron in a water supply have 

previously been discussed. (See p. 8.) However, besides the 

trouble caused by iron in water, corrosion causes the deterioration 

of water pipes, steam boilers, and water-heating equipment. Many 

waters that do not appreciably corrode cold-water lines will aggressively attack hot-water lines, as raising the temperature of the water 

greatly increases its corrosive activity. Corrosion of pipe lines 

resulting in tuberculation 15 causes economic losses, due to increased 

friction and loss of flow. Spellei, 16 in his book on corrosion, makes

'« Clark, W. M., The determination of hydrogen ions, 3d ed., Williams & Wilkins Co., 1928. 

« Alexander, L. J., Economic evaluation of tuberculation in pipelines: Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., 

vol. 32, pp. 371-385, 1940. 

»« Speller, F. N.f Corrosion, causes and prevention, 2d ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1935.
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER 17

readily available a comprehensive inventory of available information 

on the general principles, causes, and prevention of corrosion. Oxygen, 

carbon dioxide, free acid, and acid-generating salts are the principal 

constituents in water causing corrosion. The alkalinity of water is 

a factor in decreasing corrosion.

Waters such as the soft surface waters in Georgia are likely to be 

corrosive unless final treatment is given to prevent this. The coagulation of water with alum increases the carbon dioxide content and 

produces a more corrosive water. Although a few of the soft surface 

waters delivered to consumers are corrosive, by far the majority of 

the surface-water supplies described in this report receive final adjustment of pH to inhibit corrosion by the addition of lime and a few by 

the addition of soda ash.

Only a few of the ground waters as served to consumers are corrosive. 

Most of the ground-water supplies described are obtained from artesian wells in the Coastal Plain, and these hard artesian well waters 

are generally not noticeably corrosive. The hydrogen sulphide in 

many of the artesian waters of the Coastal Plain may cause a slight 

amount of corrosion. There are some soft well waters in the Coastal 

Plain just bolow the fall line and some well waters from rock fractures 

in the Appalachian Highlands that are naturally corrosive.

Corrosion may be inhibited by protective coatings. A protective 

coating control can be maintained in water-purification plants by 

the proper adjustment of pH by the addition of lime. The lime produces a protective coating consisting largely of calcium carbonate. 

For water mains such protective coatings as cement and bituminous 

materials are used. Pitting of the metal may develop if the coatings 

are irregular or poorly adherent, so that spots of the metal are exposed. 

This localizing of the corroding activity may accelerate the deterioration of the metal.

In some household installations sodium silicate is added to the water 

to favor the formation of a protective film, especially in hot-water 

lines. The use of small amounts of sodium hexametaphosphate 17 in 

the control of corrosion and deposits is now receiving favorable attention at a number of water plants.

Resistant iron alloys are often used as casings for corrosive well 

waters. Red brass and copper pipe are being used more and more 

to inhibit corrosion in household pipe lines. A few waters very high 

in carbon dioxide seem to have a solvent action on copper pipe and 

dissolve a small amount of copper, which is objectionable. Brass pipe 

that contains a fairly high percentage of zinc may be attacked severely 

by water that would corrode iron pipes. The water may come 

through the brass pipes without any color, because the zinc does not

17 Gidley, II. T. and Weston, R. S., Corrosion control by sodium hexametaphosphate: Am. Water Works 

Assoc. Jour., vol. 32, pp. 1484-1494,1940.
18 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

have the staining action of iron, manganese, and copper, but in time 

the zinc may be dissolved at many places, leaving a skeleton of copper, 

which is porous, so that the pipes develop many leaks. Red brass, 

which is low in zinc, appears to withstand the corrosive action of 

water much better than ordinary yellow brass, which is comparatively high in zinc. In some installations tin-coated copper pipe is 

used where the water is corrosive enough to attack red brass or copper 

pipe.

COLOR

In water analysis the term "color" refers to the appearance of 

water that is free from suspended matter. Water for domestic use 

and some industrial uses should be free from perceptible color. Many 

of the raw surface waters in Georgia appear to have a yellow or reddish-yellow color due to the presence of finely suspended clay. Usually these waters will be practically colorless after the suspended matter 

is removed. Many of the surface waters originating in the eastern 

and southern parts of the Coastal Plain of Georgia are highly colored, 

but none of the public supplies discussed use these highly colored 

Coastal Plain waters.

Natural color in surface waters is caused almost entirely by organic 

matter extracted from leaves, roots, and other substances in the 

ground. The platinum-cobalt standard proposed by Hazen18 in 1892 

is the commonly adopted standard for measuring color in water in the 

United States, the unit of color being that produced by 1 milligram 

of platinum per liter, dissolved as platinic chloride, with the addition 

of enough cobalt chloride to give a color matching the shade of the 

natural water. The figures for color given in the table of analyses 

represent units of this platinum-cobalt scale.

Color determinations were made on practically all samples of the 

raw and finished water from surface-water supplies. If the raw 

water had color, the coagulation and filtration reduced the color to a 

negligible amount. Generally, color was not reported for the ground 

waters, because, as a rule, they were practically free from color.

TASTE AND ODOR

The increasing demand by the public for more palatable drinking 

water is being met steadily by the elimination of taste and odor 

from water delivered to consumers by public water supplies. Trouble 

from taste and odor is usually confined to surface waters. A number 

of the artesian well waters in the Coastal Plain of Georgia contain 

hydrogen sulphide, which gives a characteristic odor to water, but this 

odor can be eliminated readily by aeration.

w Hazen, Alien, A new color standard for natural waters: Am. Ohem. Jour., vol. 14, pp. 300-310, 1892. 

Am. Public Health Assoc. and Am. Water Works Assoc., Standard methods for the examination of water 

and sewage, 8th ed., pp. 12-14,1936.
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER 19

Many of the tastes and odors in surface waters are of natural origin, 

and are produced largely by microscopic organisms. Unless pre^ 

ventive treatment is applied, water standing in the sunlight in Iarg6 

reservoirs is almost certain to develop taste and odor due to microscopic growths. Certain industrial wastes and pollution from sewage 

also cause taste and odor in water. Taste in water that results from 

the treatment of the water is generally produced by chlorine. Often 

the taste is not due to the chlorine itself but results from its combination with certain other substances, particularly phenolic compounds.

Activated carbon is being extensively used to remove tastes and 

odors. 19 It is used at many of the water-purification plants in Georgia 

when taste and odor are present in the raw water. A number of the 

treatment plants use ammonia in some form to control taste and odor, 

particularly to prevent taste caused by the chlorination of the water.

TEMPERATURE

Information on temperature of water is of value to those industries 

in which the efficiency of the process is dependent to some degree upon 

the temperature of the water, particularly the use of water for cooling 

purposes. The rapidly expanding air-conditioning business has 

greatly increased the demand for data on water temperature. The 

maximum water temperatures and the extent of their duration are of 

primary importance in connection with the use of water for cooling. 

The general subject of the temperature of surface and ground water is 

discussed in a report by Collins.20 Records of monthly temperature^ 

of the water at the main outlet for public water supplies of cities 

having a population of 20,000 or more are given in a report by 

Holleran.21

Temperatures for the underground waters are given in the tables 

of analyses. Nearly all the temperature measurements of the underground waters were made by the writer with thermometers calibrated 

by the National Bureau of Standards, and the figures given represent 

the temperature of the water as it comes from the ground. In th£ 

few cases where the ground water received chemical treatment the 

temperature of the finished water is also given. Near the surface 

the temperature of ground water follows changes in air temperature. 

For water from depths below about 30 feet there will be little variation 

in temperature throughout the year. For water from depths below 

30 to 60 feet there will be an increase in temperature with increasing 

depth corresponding to the increase in earth temperature. For the

w Baylis, J. R., Elimination of taste and odor in water: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1935.

20 Collins, W. D., Temperature of water available for industrial use in the United States: U. S. Qeol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 520, pp. 97-104, 1925.

M Holleran, 0. C., Effect of city water and sewerage facilities on industrial markets: Bur. Foreign and 

Domestic Commerce Market Research Series No. 17,1938.
20 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

well waters given in this report there is no appreciable change throughout the year in the temperature of the water as it comes from the 

ground, and there is probably very little change in the temperature 

of the spring waters.

Temperatures for the surface waters are not given in the tables 

of analyses as the range and variation throughout the year are so 

great that single-spot temperatures would have little significance. 

At a number of the filtration plants, however, daily measurements of 

the temperature of the raw water were made, and the range and average of these results are given under the heading "Regular determinations at the filtration plant." When the water is warming up in the 

spring and early summer the temperature of the surface water will 

lag behind, whereas in August and September it may exceed the mean 

temperature of the air. At any place, however, the mean monthly 

temperature of a surface water is generally within a few degrees of the 

mean monthly air temperature when the air temperature is above 

freezing. Waters from large lakes or reservoirs are particularly slow 

to warm up to summer air temperatures, except that the surface 

and shallow parts of these waters will warm up at a much greater rate.

The temperatures given may be said to represent the water at its 

source; for the underground waters they represent the water as it 

comes from the ground, and for the surface waters they represent the 

raw water delivered to the filtration plant. In many public supplies 

the temperature of the water at the source will give a good indication 

of the temperature of the water received by consumers. For well 

supplies that are pumped directly into the mains there is generally 

little change in temperature. Supplies that stand in shallow reservoirs, elevated tanks, and standpipes show a greater tendency to 

follow air temperature.

SUSPENDED MATTER AND TURBIDITY

Suspended matter as reported in water analyses is the weight in 

parts per million of the suspended or insoluble material carried by 

die water. The turbidity of water is a measure of the obstruction to 

the passage of light by suspended material. The most widely used 

unit for the measurement of turbidity is based.on a standard adopted 

by the Geological Survey and published in 1902 22 as follows:

The standard of turbidity shall be a water which contains 100 parts of silica 

per million in such a state of fineness that a bright platinum wire 1 millimeter 

in diameter can just be seen when the center of the wire is 100 millimeters below 

the surface of the water and the eye of the observer is 1.2 meters above the wire, 

the observation being made in the middle of the day, in the open air, but not in 

sunlight, and in a vessel so large that the sides do not shut out the light so as 

to influence the results. The turbidity of such water shall be 100.

' U. S. Geol. Survey, Div. Hydrography Circ. 8,1902.
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER 21

The suspended matter carried by a stream is an item of considerable 

importance in connection with the utilization of the water. Any plan 

for a filtration plant and reservoir must take into account the amount 

and nature of the suspended matter carried by the streams. The 

development of plans for the utilization of surface water without 

filtration should include adequate information on the suspended matter 

that may be carried by the stream at any time.

The quantity of suspended matter varies widely and changes suddenly at most places, in accordance with the rainfall and the condition 

of the ground on which the rain falls. Many of the large streams in 

Georgia and the streams originating in the Appalachian Highlands 

and the northern part of the Coastal Plain carry suspended matter 

that consists mainly of red and yellow clay, which produces a relatively high turbidity for the amount of suspended matter that is 

actually present. Some of the suspended matter is so fine that it 

cannot be removed with filter paper without coagulation and some of 

it may persist almost indefinitely in undisturbed sample bottles. 

The colored surface waters originating in the eastern and southern 

parts of the Coastal Plain generally carry very little suspended matter. 

Except for some small mountain streams, the surface waters in the 

Appalachian Highlands and in the northern part of the Coastal Plain 

frequently carry considerably more suspended material than dissolved 

material, but for the colored surface waters originating in the eastern 

and southern parts of the Coastal Plain the opposite of this is true.

Because the suspended matter carried by the streams used for the 

public supplies discussed in this report generally varies during the 

year and from one year to another considerably more than the dissolved constituents, results for suspended matter based on single 

analyses are not given, as they may be decidedly misleading. For 

those waters, however, for which the average of a series of analyses 

covering a period of a year is used, the average suspended matter 

carried by the stream is given in the tables of analyses.

At a number of the waterworks laboratories the turbidity was 

determined regularly, and the range and average of these results are 

given for the raw water for a period of a year under the heading 

"Regular determinations at the filtration plant." These turbidity 

tests were made on the raw water delivered to the filtration plant, 

which in many public supplies represents the water after it has been 

settled in reservoirs. No results are given for the turbidity of the 

finished water, as generally the water served to consumers is free of 

noticeable suspended matter or turbidity. At times some water 

used by consumers may contain a little sediment due to iron.

449166 42 t
22 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

HARDNESS

Hardness is the characteristic of water that receives the most attention with reference to domestic and industrial use. Hardness is 

caused almost entirely by calcium and magnesium. Other constituents, such as iron, aluminum, barium, strontium, zinc, and free acid 

also cause hardness, but in the water of public supplies as delivered 

to the mains they are not usually present in quantities large enough 

to have any appreciable effect.

Hardness is commonly reported as calcium carbonate (CaCO3) 

equivalent to the calcium and magnesium. The hardness of water in 

terms of calcium carbonate may be calculated by multiplying the parts 

per million of calcium by 2.5 and of magnesium by 4.1; the sum of 

these represents the total hardness of the water in parts per million. 

All hardness results given in this report are calculated. The hardness 

of water can be determined also by means of a standard soap solution, 

but the soap method is generally considered less reliable than the 

method of calculating hardness from the quantities of calcium and 

magnesium as determined by analysis.

The hardness caused by calcium and magnesium equivalent to the 

bicarbonate or carbonate in a water is called carbonate hardness; the 

hardness caused by other compounds of calcium and magnesium is 

called noncarbonate hardness.

Hard water is objectionable in the home on account of its soapconsuming capacity. The calcium and magnesium react with the 

soluble soap to form an insoluble curd or grease, which not only wastes 

the soap but is also objectionable in all washing processes. The consumption of soap by water of a given hardness is normally the same 

whether the hardness is caused by calcium or magnesium and is the 

same for carbonate and noncarbonate hardness. The character of 

scale formed in steam boilers is affected by the relation of carbonate to 

noncarbonate hardness; the addition of chemicals for softening is 

governed by the ratio of carbonate to noncarbonate hardness and of 

magnesium to calcium.

For economical and satisfactory operation commercial laundries 

require water that is practically of zero hardness. Many laundries 

use the exchange-silicate process in completely softening the water. 

The processing water for textile mills is required to be very soft. 

Hard water is objectionable also in the bleaching, dyeing, soap, and 

tanning industries. In the manufacture of high-grade papers hardness 

may interfere with the proper sizing. In the canning of peas the 

adsorption of calcium has a tendency to toughen the peas. A protective coating produced by the formation of scale may inhibit corrosion of pipe lines and other equipment, but scale if uncontrolled 

may cause loss in heat transfer, loss of flow, and boiler failure.
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER 23 

DISTRIBUTION OF HARDNESS

Carbonate hardness caused by calcium and magnesium bicarbonates 

represents much of the mineral content of the waters discussed in this 

report. This is particularly true for the ground waters. A number of 

the artesian well waters in the southern and southeastern parts of the 

Coastal Plain also have noncarbonate hardness due to calcium sulphate, and the hardness of these waters is increased accordingly.

In the coagulation of the surface waters the sulphate is increased 

at the expense of the bicarbonate, but generally the bicarbonate is 

brought back or even increased by the final adjustment of pH by the 

addition of lime or, occasionally, soda ash. If lime is used, the hardness of the water is increased.

The data on the hardness of water of the larger public water supplies 

in Georgia as given by the analyses have been summarized in different 

ways in tables 2 and 3 and in figure 1. To avoid drawing erroneous 

conclusions from these summaries the nature of the. base data must be 

kept in mind. These data relate only to the 66 public water supplies 

described in this report. According to the 1940 census the population 

served by the 66 supplies is 1,098,819, or 35.2 percent of the population 

of the State. The hardness of surface waters varies during the year, 

and at places where lime is used the variation may be increased in 

accordance with the extent of the treatment. For all but a few of the 

surface supplies, however, the hardness of the water is low at all times. 

For an artesian well a single analysis is usually representative of the 

composition of the water from that well throughout the year. The 

hardness of the mixed watei from several wells depends on the hardness of the individual wells and upon the extent to which each well is 

used. Generally at any one place the water from the different wells 

was reasonably similar in composition, so that changes in percent of 

supply did not alter greatly the hardness of the mixed water. For 

several water departments, however, there was a considerable difference in hardness of the water from the individual sources. At East 

Point analyses of the water from 3 wells show extremes in hardness of 

49 and 260 parts per million for the raw water and 69 and 251 parts, 

per million for the finished water.

Table 2 lists the 66 public supplies, the population served by each, 

and the hardness of the water. The hardness of the water supplies 

reported here was determined from the data given in the tables of 

analyses, which generally cover all or nearly all regular sources of 

supply.

The average hardness of the finished water as furnished consumers 

by the 66 larger Georgia public water supplies is 29 parts per million 

for the surface supplies, 123 parts per million for the ground supplies, 

and 77 parts per million for all supplies. These results are straight 

averages in which each city is considered equally, regardless of its size.
24 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

TABLE 2. Hardness of the larger public water supplies in Georgia

Place

Albany _ ______ . _____ _ _ _.

Athens.. ______ _ __ . ___ _____ __

Atlanta __ __.- . .. . _ Augusta. __ ... ______ . ______

Bambridsre ___ _ ___ .. __ _ ___

Barnesvillo, __

Brunswick... _ ___ .....

Buford..-.. ._.. .......

Cairo. _____ .

Canton.. .............

Carrollton -.._... _____ .. __ ..

Cartersvillei.. _______________

Cedartown. .. ______ . ____ . .....

Colleae Park.. ___ . .. _____ ..___

Columbus _ __ ... ___ .. .. ....

Commerce _ _.

Coving'ton ______ . ____ .... ....

Cuthbert. .---.-_ _ ..... _ ... ........

Dalton. ........ ___ .... . . ...

Dawson. _____ _________ ......

Decatur... _ . __ . _____ __ _ _ .

Douglas ___ .....

Dublin. - _ ... _ ...... ,

Eastman. _____ . _ .. _.

East Point.. __ _ ... ____ .. ......

East Thomaston

Elberton. _ ........... .

Fitzgerald. ________ ...

Fort Valley _____ ...

Gainesville. __ ____ ..

Griffin.. ................ __ .. . .....

Hapeville 2 . ...

X,afayette __ _ _ ...

JLa Grange 3 .. __ .--.-..

Lindale. ___ _ _ ...... . .

Macon ...

Marietta. .......... ____ ... __ .....

Mflledgeville:

Millen-.- .

Tifton... .... ............................

Trion. __________________

Vidalia- ....... ..... . ......... :

Winder....-...... ........ ...........

Total DODulation.. __ _ __

Population 

served

19, 055 

9,281 

20, 650 

342, 300 

65, 919 

6,352 

3,535 

15, 035 

4,191 

4, 653 

3.000 

6,214 

6,141 

9, 025 

8,213 

56,000 

3.294 

7,929 

4,800 

3,447 

10. 448 

3,681 

17, 100 

5,175 

7,814 

3,311 

12,403 

3,590 

6,600 

7,388 

4.953 

11, 200 

13, 222 

5,059 

3,700 

21, 983 

3,361 

67,900 

3,462 

8,667

8,700 

8,000 

2,820 

4,168 

10, 147 

7,182 

2,579 

3,116 

4,450 

3,764 

26,282 

3,538 

3,566 

100, 000 

3,930 

5,028 

6,396 

12,683 

5,228 

5,494 

3,800 

15, 595 

4,109 

3,537 

16, 763 

3,793 

4,100

1. 098. 819

Hardness as CaCO. 

(parts per million)

Surface supplies

Raw 

water

15 

11 16

3.8

15

12 

13 

15

12

8.3

9.4

131

16

12

9.6

6.9 

20

20

16 

2.6

33 

18

8.9

9.2

13

66 

39 

64

12

12

8.0

31

16 

6.2

21 

16

Finished 

water

32 

22 

18

26

42

23 

34 

41

23 

9.8

11

60

30

,12 

32

16 

32

32

28 

24

44 

20

17

21

15

63 

50 

72

12

11

16

33

32 

37

29 

25

Ground supplies

Raw 

water

81 

95

121

205

621

il7

132 

44

123

138

118

198 

178 

136 

110

94

5.2

58 

86 

93 

146

60

113

113

166

141

49 

106

106

202 

144

103 

98 

102

 148

131

122

Finished 

water

81 

95

121

205

621

41 

132 

55

123

138

118

198 

45 

136 

120

94 

12

58 

86 '93 

146

60

113

113

166

141

49 

106

106

60 

144

103 

98 

102

148

123 

115

J The finished water is a mixture of about 80 percent river water and about 20 percent spring water.

2 A small amount of finished surface water is purchased from Atlanta.

3 A small proportion of the consumers receive well water or a mixture of well and river water.
PROPERTIES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER 25

It should be understood that the average figure for all supplies may be 

appreciably affected by the proportional number of surface and ground 

supplies. The weighted average hardness of the finished water, in the 

calculation of which each city is considered in proportion to the popuEXPLANATION

DC -

^

FIGURE 1. Hardness of publjc water supplies in Georgia.

lation it serves, was determined to be 53 parts per million for all 

supplies.

The data on hardness of the finished water in table 2 are shown 

graphically on figure 1, on which the cities are marked to correspond 

to four groups of hardness.

The first group is made up of cities having water of hardness in the 

range of 1 to 60 parts per million. Water of this degree of hardness is
26 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

considered soft. It is entirely satisfactory for all domestic uses. For 

supplies with a hardness near 60 softening is profitable for many 

steam-boiler plants and for some other industrial uses.

The second group is made up of cities having water of hardness in 

the range of 61 to 120 parts per million. The waters of this group 

may be considered moderately hard. People who are accustomed to 

really soft water will notice the hardness of the supplies in this range, 

especially in the upper part, but to those who have regularly used water 

with a hardness of several hundred parts per million the waters of this 

group will seem soft. Municipal softening is not usually practiced for 

waters in this group, although where municipal softening is practiced 

for harder waters the hardness is often reduced to about the lower 

limit of this group. Household water softeners have been installed 

by some users of supplies with a hardness near the upper limit for this 

group. Softening of any supply in this group is likely to be profitable 

for a laundry, and softening or treatment within the boiler is necessary 

for a steam-boiler plant. The hardness of the waters of this group, 

particularly near the upper limit, is objectionable also for some other 

industrial uses.

The third group includes cities having water of hardness in the range 

of 121 to 200 parts per million. Waters in the upper range of this 

group may be considered hard. The hardness of waters of this group 

is noticed by nearly everyone, but the waters near the lower limit 

cause little complaint when used without softening. Household softening, however, is commonly found desirable by people using supplies 

that fall within this range of hardness. Any indistrial plant employing processes in which hard water is detrimental will solten waters 

whose hardness falls within the range of this group. Municipal 

softening, particularly for those supplies in the upper part of the range, 

may be profitable.

The fourth group includes waters having a hardness of 201 parts 

per million and above. Only two of the supplies, Brunswick (hardness 

205) and Cairo (hardness 621), fall in this group. Waters of this 

group may be considered hard to very hard, and they are objectionable 

for many domestic and industrial uses. It is desirable to soften such 

waters, but the cost of softening a public supply of very hard water 

may be prohibitive. For satisfactory domestic use some of the water 

may be softened in the home, or else rainwater may be collected 

and used for purposes for which hard water is objectionable. Softer 

water from shallow wells is available at some places and may be used 

to supplement the public supply for certain household uses.

Table 3 gives the number of consumers (census of 1940) using water 

of different degrees of hardness from the 66 larger public supplies in 

Georgia. The table indicates that by far the largest number of
WATER PURIFICATION 27

consumers use water with hardness of from 1 to 60 parts per million. 

All the finished surface waters as given in this report fall within this 

group except those for two places, Rockmart (hardness 63) and Rossville (hardness 72). At times the raw water at Dalton is considerably 

harder, but at those times it is generally softened to a hardness of 

about 60 parts per million.

More than half of the people using ground water from the larger 

public supplies in Georgia receive water of hardness between 61 and 

120 parts per million. The number of consumers using ground water 

of hardness between 121 and 200 parts per million is somewhat larger 

than the number using ground water of hardness between 1 and 60 

parts per million.

TABLE 3. Number of persons using water of different degrees of hardness from the 

larger public water supplies in Georgia

Range of hardness

(parts per million)

1-10- ...-. ...

21-30. ...........

31-40 

41-50 

51-60 

1-60 _ 

61-80 

81-100 

101-120 

61-120 

121-140 .

141-160.. 

161-180 

Surface

0

119 907

500, 580

44, 086

10,448

752, 482

7,302

0

0

7

QrtO

0

0

0

Populatio

Ground

0

4,953

0

0

12,608

34, 521

52, 082

0

57, 657

141, 988

199 645

2,579

a

Total

0

124 860

500,580

56, 694

44, 969

804, 564

7,302

57, 657

141, 988

206 947

29, 802

2,579

Range of hardness

(parts per million)

181-200 

121-200. 

201-250 

251-300 - 

Qfti ocn

351-400- . - 

d.fi1_d.Plfi

451-500 

501-550 

551-600 

601-650

201-650 

Surface

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

759, 784

Population

Ground

5,175

67, 620

15, 035

0

0

0

0

0

0

Q

4,653

339, 035

Total

5,175

67,620

15, 035

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4 1 653

19 , 688 WXJ

1,098,819

WATER PURIFICATION

The general subject of water purification is discussed comprehensively hi several publications, 23 and others deal with special features, 

such as the chemistry of water treatment, 24 the microscopy of drinking water, 26 and the control and operation of filtration plants.28 The 

control of processes employed in the treatment of water for public supplies has been discussed with special reference to conditions in 

Georgia.27 Articles on changes and improvements in treatment processes are published currently in journals of the American Water

w Manual of water quality and treatment: Am. Water Works Assoc., 1940. Ellms, J. W., Water purification, 2d ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1928. Flinn, A. D., Weston, R. S., and Bogert, C. L., Waterworks 

handbook of design, construction, and operation, 3d ed., McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1927.

24 Buswell, A. M., The chemistry of water and sewage treatment: Am. Chem. Soc. Mon. 38, Chemical 

Catalog Co., 1928.

" Whipple, G. C., The microscopy of drinking water, 4th ed., revised by G. M. Fair and M. C. Whipple, 

John Wiley & Sons, 1927. '

2« Hopkins, E. S., Water purification control, 2d ed., Williams & Wilkins Co., 1936. :

27 Practical procedures for the water works operator, Georgia Dept. Public Health, 1939.
28 QUALITY OF WATE-K SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Works Association and the New England Water Works Association 

and in other journals dealing with water, sewerage, sanitation, and 

engineering. A published census of municipal water-purification 

plants 28 includes a chart giving data on the design and actual operation, in January 1932, of 45 large rapid sand filtration plants in the 

United States and 3 in Canada and also lists by States several thousand water-purification plants (including those using simple chlorination), for which it gives information on type of source of supply, 

rated capacity and average output of plant, and treatment process.

It is understood that the water furnished by a public supply should 

be safe to drink at all times. All surface supplies and most ground 

supplies discussed in this report are treated with chlorine. Usually 

water from deep wells with sealed casings is much less subject to 

pollution than water from surface supplies. Some of the unchlorinated water from wells in rock fractures in the Appalachian Highlands and in certain formations in the Coastal Plain might be regarded 

as a potential source of danger. For some of the surface supplies 

and several of the well supplies ammonia, or ammonia in the form of 

ammonium sulphate, is used to prevent a chlorinous taste and also 

to prevent other tastes being made more pronounced by chlorine. 

The ammonia-chlorine treatment provides prolonged sterilization 

and permits higher residual chlorine without its being detected by the 

consumer.

In the descriptive material under each public supply (pp. 31-83) 

the treatment process is given, and the operations and chemicals involved are listed in the order in which they are used. Table 4 also 

gives data on the treatment of the larger public supplies. Several 

places using mixed surface and ground waters and several places 

using different treatment for waters from different sources are classified in this table in accordance with the main part of the supply. 

The population served, however, was determined strictly on the basis 

of the number of people receiving each kind of water.

The surface waters are coagulated with alum (aluminum sulphate), 

except that at Dalton ferric sulphate is used when the water is softened. 

A number of the treatment plants use lime or soda ashk in conjunction 

with the alum to produce the alkalinity necessary for satisfactory floe 

formation. Activated carbon is used, when needed, to*remove tastes 

and odors from many of the surface waters. Lime is used for the final 

adjustment of pH for most of the surface waters and for several of the 

ground waters. At some of the filtration plants soda ash is used instead 

of lime to adjust the pH of the finished water. A few of^the well 

waters are treated to remove iion or iron and manganese.

' Census of municipal water-purification plants in the United States, 1930-31, Am. Water Works Assoc., 

1933.
SOFTENING 29

TABLE 4. Treatment of the larger public water supplier in Georgia

Source of treatment Number of 

places

33

33

27

1

33

33

7

4

2

2

26

7

Population 

served

759, 784

759, 784

728, 777

10,448

759, 784

339, 035

62, 526

34, 476

10,291

20,497

297, 831

41,204

Percentage 

of 

population 

served

69.1

69.1

66 ?

1.0'

69.1

30. 91

5.7'

3.1.9-

1.9

27.. H

3.S

For part of the time only.

SOFTENING

There is an increasing demand for soft water for both domestic 

and industrial uses, and where soft Water is not naturally available 

more and more places are softening the water. Once a public supply 

of hard water has been softened, the consumers demand softened 

water. Studies on the consumption of soap by hard water ha\e 

shown that softening would save sufficient soap in the average home 

to offset the expense of the treatment. A paper published in 1939 29 

evaluates the savings from softened water and gives a comprehensive 

bibliography on water softening. The degree to which municipalities 

soften water is being lowered, and many softening plants reduce the 

hardness of the finished water to about 60 parts per million.

Hard water is softened by treatment that changes soluble calcium 

and magnesium compounds to insoluble substances and then removes 

them from the water. The lime or lime-soda softening process 30 i& 

generally used where the water requires filtration and where the 

installation is large enough to warrant technical super-vision. Softening with lime is the more economical and it reduces the total mineral 

content of the water, but it removes only the carbonate hardness. 

Soda ash may be used with the lime to reduce the more troublesome 

noncarbonate hardness. This use of soda ash makes little change in 

the total mineral content. Lime or lime-soda softening is used in 

conjunction with coagulation, and it is effective in removing iron and 

some silica. It is especially adapted to the treatment of badly 

polluted waters, as it aids in the removal of bacteria, organic matter, 

color, and objectionable gases. Water softened by the lime or limesoda process is generally recarbonated, by the addition of carbon

29 Olson, H. M., Benefits and savings from softened water lor municipal supply: Am. Water Work8 

Assoc. Jour., vol. 31, pp. 607-639, 1939.

30 Hoover, C. P., Use of lime in witter softening and water purification: Ind. and Eng. Chemistry, vol. 19,. 

pp. 567-570. 1927; Eeview of lime-soda water softening: Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., vol. 29, pp. 1687 

1696, 1937; Water supply and treatment, National Lime A?soc., 1941.

449166 42 -5
30 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

dioxide, to prevent deposits of calcium carbonate in the filters and in 

pipe lines, particularly hot-water lines. For the past few years 

sodium hexametaphosphate 31 has also been used for the stabilization 

of water softened by the lime or lime-soda process, and reports show 

certain advantages in the use of this chemical for the prevention of 

after-precipitation of calcium carbonate.

Zeolites 32 are used extensively in water softening, particularly 

for supplies that do not need to be filtered. For such waters the 

zeolite process has the advantage of requiring less careful control and 

supervision than the lime-soda process. By the zeolite process the 

water can be softened to about zero hardness, but this is not generally 

economically practical for public water supplies. Good results have 

been obtained by municipalities by softening part of the water to about 

zero hardness by zeolites and then mixing the softened water with 

some of the unsoftened water to obtain an effluent of the desired 

hardness. Many laundries and industrial plants that require softer 

water than that furnished by the public supplies use zeolites to 

soften the water. Softening with sodium zeolites is not satisfactory 

with certain industrial waters where the amount of sodium salts will be 

objectionable.

The siliceous sodium zeolites soften the water by base exchange, 

in which the calcium and magnesium of the water are exchanged for 

the sodium of the zeolite and the total mineral content of the water is 

altered very little. Carbonaceous zeolites 33 have been developed 

that will remove hardness and alkalinity and thereby reduce the total 

mineral content of the water. Boiler-feed waters low in silica can 

be softened by carbonaceous zeolites without the danger of silica 

pick-up, which might result if siliceous zeolites were used.

Of the 66 public supplies only one surface supply, that at Dalton, 

and 2 ground-water sugplies, those at Dublin and Thomasville, are 

softened. At Dalton the water is softened with lime, but softening 

is necessary only during dry weather, when the hardness of the water 

becomes objectionable. Except for this supply at Dalton during 

dry weather the hardness of surface supplies is generally below the 

limit where municipal softening is now practiced.

At Dublin the water is softened with lime, but the water at Thomasville contains some noncarbonate hardness and therefore is softened

si Rice, Owen, and Hatch, G. B., Threshold treatment of municipal water supplies: Am. Water Works 

Assoc. Jour-., vol. 31. pp. 1171-1185, 1939. Hoover, C. P., and Rice, Owen, Threshold treatment a new 

method of stabilizing water in softening or corrosion control through water conditioning: Water Works and 

Sewerage, vol. 86, pp. 10-12,1939.

32 Powell, S. T., Trends in zeolite softening: Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., vol. 29, pp. 1722-1738,1937. 

Behrman, A. S., Progress in municipal zeolite water softening: Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., vol. 26 

pp. 618-628, 1934.

33 Applebaum, S. B., Recent experiences with carbonaceous zeolites: Am. Water Works Assoc. Jour., 

vol. 32, pp. 583-592, 1940.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 31

with lime and soda ash. The softening process at Dublin and Thomasville also serves to remove iron from the raw water. Many of the 

hard ground-water supplies given in this report could profitably be 

softened. As softening can usually be handled more economically 

in a large municipal plant than in a number of small individual installations in the homes and in different business establishments, it is 

worth while for any public supply furnishing iard water to consider 

the advantages of softening the water from the standpoint of industrial development and more satisfactory use of the water.

GEORGIA PUBLIC WATER SUPPLIES 

DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES

In the following section, arranged alphabetically by the names of 

the cities, are giv^en the data on the 66 public water supplies of Georgia 

upon which this report is based. The population of each city according to the 1940 census is shown. For a waterworks system serving 

other communities and consumers outside the city limits, the names 

of the communities and the total population supplied are also giv^en. 

For each public supply the description includes, in the following order, 

the ownership, source of supply, treatment, storage, and distribution 

of the water. Rated capacities of the filtration plants are given, as 

well as other data pertinent to individual waterworks systems. Under 

treatment, the operations and chemicals are listed in the order in 

which they arc employed. At some of the places where water is 

obtained from several sources, the percent of supply from each source 

may vary from time to time, but the data on percent of supply 

indicate in general the extent to which each source is tised.

The analyses show the mineral content of the water. For the 

waters receiving chemical treatment other than chlorination, analyses 

are given for both the raw and the finished water. For most of the 

underground waters receiving no treatment other than chlorination, 

analyses are given for the individual wells and springs. For a number 

of filtration plants average, maximum, and minimum results are giv^en 

for alkalinity, pH, turbidity, and temperature in order to show the 

variation of these characteristics during the year.

ALBANY

[Population 19,055]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 3 wells (Nos.-5 to 7), 813, 850, and 1,027 feet deep (the yield of well 7 

is reported to be 1,200 gallons per minute); emergency supply from 4 wells (Nos. 

1 to 4), 750, 750, 1,000, and 234 feet deep.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 3 reservoirs (Nos. 1 to 3), 310,000, 244,000, and 998,000 gallons; 

elevated tank, 500,000 gallons.
32 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Wells 1 to 4 are at the waterworks pumping plant; well 5 on Flint Alley between 

Madison and Monroe Streets; well 6 at Wilson and Dewey Streets; well 7 at Flint 

Avenue and Front Street. Well 2 was drilled to 1,200 feet, and a 2-inch pipe 

goes to this depth. This 2-inch pipe is used to furnish drinking water at the well. 

This well is cased to 750 feet with a 10-inch casing, and the water when used for 

the public supply is obtained from this part of the well. The water from wells 1 

to 5 is pumped to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system and elevated tank. The water from well 6 is pumped directly to the distribution system.

Wells 1 to 5/now reported to be 750, 750, 1,000,-234, and 813 feet deep, were 

reported in 1930 and in Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 658 as 800, 800, 

900, 460, and 800 feet deep.

Analyses

jWell 5, analyzed by McCandless Laboratory, Atlanta, Ga.; well 6, analyzed by L. B. Lockhart, Law & Co., 

Inc., Atlanta, Ga.; well 7, analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiO.) __. 

Sulphate (SO.). 

Chloride (Cl). ................

Fluoride (F)___ _ ____________

Nitrate (NOs)... -

Total hardness as CaCOs...-.

« 

Depth (feet)- ..

WellS

Parts 

per 

million

18 

'.70 

24 

4.6 

30 

1.8 

156 

11 

5.2

2173 

79

May 2, 1928

Equivalents per 

million

1.198 

.378 

1.304 

.046 

2.557 

.229 

.147

813 

18

30

Well6

Parts 

per 

million

11 

.07 

26 

5.7

} 35

178 

7.8 

4.5

192

88

April 1937

Equivalents per 

million

1.298 

.469

1.522

3.918 

.162 

.127

850 

18 

1937 

40

Well?

Parts 

per 

million

24 

.01 

21 

5.2 

f 43 

\ 2.3 

194 

8.3 

2.9 

.2 

.09 

202

74 

76 

Sept. 15, 

1939

Equivalents per 

million

1.048 

.428 

1.870 

.059 

3.180 

.173 

.082 

.010 

.002

1,027 

30 

1939 

30

1 Iron and aluminum oxides.

2 Calculated.

AMERTCUS

[Population 9,2811

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 4 wells, 259, 168, 337, and 400 feet deep, and 182 developed springs. 

The yield of the wells is reported to be about 520, 415, 300, and 300 gallons per 

minute; the yield of the 182 springs is reported to be about 225 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 4 reservoirs, total capacity 422,000 gallons; elevated tank, 350,000 

gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant and the springs about 

half a mile northeast of the wells. The water is pumped from the wells and flows 

from the springs to the reservoirs. It is pumped from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the elevated tank.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 33

Analyses of water from 4 wells (74 percent of supply) 

|( 'ollected Jan. 21,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness. Well numbers assigned by Geological Survey]

Silica (SiO2) ..-....- .---

Iron (Fe) __________________

Calcium (Ca) ------ ...... .

Magnesium (Mg. . _ _ - _ _ _ . 

Sodium (Na) ....

Bicarbonate (HCOs) - -

Sulphate CSO..._.._ -

Chloride CCl). __________

Fluoride(P) -....-.-. .

Nitrite (NO?) ------ .

Total hardness as CaCOa

Depth (reel) _. -

Date drilled _.__ _

Well 1

Parts 

per 

million

28 

.18

46 

4.5 

3.4 

3.4

152 

16 

2.0 

.0 

.08 

177

133

67

Equivalents per 

million

2.290 

.370 

.148 

.087 

2.492 

.333 

.056 

.000 

.001

259 

12 

1927 

60

Well 2

Parts 

per 

million

50 

.36

30 

3.1 

3.3 

3.0 

96 

14 

2.0 

.0 

.00

88

Equivalents per 

million

1.497 

.255 

.144 

.077 

1.574 

.292 

.056 

.000 

.001

168 

10 

1914 

6

WellS

Parts 

per 

million

.56

46 

3.8 

3.2 

2.9 

149 

15 

2.2 

.0 

.0 

168

131

67

Equivalents per 

million

2.296 

.312 

.139 

.074 

2. 442 

.312 

.062 

.000 

.000

337 

6 

1890 

4

. Well 4

Parts 

per 

million

56 

.36

24 

2.2 

3.5 

2.9

78 

12 

2.0 

.0 

.05 

140

69

Equivalents per 

million

1.198 

.181 

.152 

.074 

1.278 

.250 

.056 

.000 

.001

400 

6 

1896 

4

Analysis of water from 182 springs (26 percent of supply) 

[Collected Jan. 21, 193S. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOz) - - -

Iron (Fe)._. ------------

Sodium (Na) -_. _____

Sulphate (SO.)-~ _- _

Parts per 

million

5.5

.09

4.0

.8

9 n

.7

Equivalents per 

million

082

AOO

.015

Chloride (Cl)__. __-____.

Fluoride (F)_ ------

Parts per 

million

4.0

,0

10

29

6.8

35

Equivalent s per 

million

0.113

.000

.161

ATHENS

[Population, 20,650]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Oconee River and Sandy Creek.

Treatment: Ammonia, chlorine, coagulation with alum and lime, rapid sand 

filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 3,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir (supplied by Sandy Creek), 100,000,000 gallons.

Finished water storage: Clear water well, 500,000 gallons; elevated standpipe, 

176,000 gallons; elevated tank, 250,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located on the west side of the Oconee River about 1}4 

miles north of the center of Athens. Either the Oconee River or Sandy Creek is 

used as the source of supply, in accordance with conditions that give the most 

economical operation. The intake on the Oconee River is near the filtration plant; 

the intake on Sandy Creek is about half a mile north of the filtration plant. When 

Oconee River is used the water is pumped directly from the river to the filtration 

plant; flows through the filtration plant to the clear water well; is pumped from
34 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

the clear water well to the distribution system, standpipe, and elevated tank. 

When Sandy Creek is used the water is pumped from the creek to the reservoir; 

flows from this reservoir to the filtration plant and is then distributed in the same 

manner as the water from the Oconee River.

Analyses 

[Analyzed by William L. Lamar and Arthur^T. Ness]

Silica (SiOs)~ ~- ~- ~- ~-

Iron (Fe) _ . _ --_---_._._._

Calcium (Ca) .. __ . __ __

Sodium (Na)..._ .. .......

Bicarbonate (HO 03) _..-..-.

Sulphate (SO4). .............

Chloride (Cl) ................

Fluoride (F)_............__._

Nitrate (N03) . .... .

Total hardness as CaCOs __ 

Color... ......... ....... __

Date of collection _____ .

Oconee River 

(raw water)

Parts 

per 

million

15 

.05

3.9 

1.8 

3.8 

1.2 

25 

2.9 

2.1 

.1 

.31 

43

17 

6 

Nov. 15, 

1940

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.195 

.148 

.165 

.031 

.410 

.060 

.059 

.005 

.005

Oconee River 

(finished water)

Parts 

million

13 

.01

12 

1.7 

4.4 

1.6 

29 

17 

3.0 

.1 

.21 

66

37 

2 

Nov. 15, 

1940

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.599 

.140 

.191 

.041 

.475 

.354 

.085 

.005 

.003

 

Sandy Creek 

(raw water)

Parts 

per 

million

12 

.12

2.9 

1.5 

3.0 

1.5 

20 

2.3 

2.0 

.0 

.60 

37

13 

12 

May 10, 

1938

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.145 

.123 

.130 

.038 

.328 

.048 

.056 

.000 

.010

Sandy Creek 

(finished water)

Parts 

per 

million

11 

.01

7.5 

1.6 

2.7 

1.5 

24 

9.3 

2.4 

.0 

.52 

48

25 

3 

May 10, 

1938

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.374 

.132 

.117 .038; 

.393 

.194 

.068 

.000 

.00&

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

18 

24

Max.

22 

26

Min.

15 

17

PH

Av.

6.8 

7.1

Max.

7.0 

7.6

Min.

6.5 

6.7

Turbidity

Av.

30

Max.

110

Min.

20

Temperature °F.

Av.

66

Max.

80

Min.

42

ATI^ANTA

[Population, 302,288]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also the unincorporated communities of Bol~ 

ton, Buckhead, Hills Park, Morningside, Riverside, Whittier Mill Village, and 

other suburban districts. Total population supplied, about 342,300.

Source: Chattahoochee River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, at times bleaching clay and copper sulphate, ammonia, chlorine, activated carbon, rapid sand filtration, final adjustment 

of pH to about 8.5 by addition of lime. Copper sulphate is also applied periodically to the raw-water reservoirs.

Rated capacity: Gravity filter plants, 21,000,000 and 33,000,000 gallons per 

day; pressure filter plant, 18,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: 2 reservoirs, 240,000,000 and 350,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 10,000,000 gallons.

The filtration plants are located in Atlanta about 4 miles northwest of Five 

Points. The intake is located about 4 miles northwest of the filtration plants. 

The water is pumped from the river to the raw-water reservoirs; flows from these
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 35

reservoirs through the nitration plants to the clear-water well; is pumped from the 

clear-water well to the distribution system.

The system is connected with the Hapeville supply and furnishes an average of 

several thousand gallons per day of the finished water to Hapeville.

Daily samples of the raw water were collected from the Chattahoochee River 

near Vinings for the year ending April 30, 1938. This sampling point is fairly 

close to the waterworks intake. There is some variation in composition of the 

water throughout the year, but the mineral content of the river water is low at 

all times.

Analyses

[Raw water, average of analyses of 10-day composites of daily samples from Chattahoochee River near 

Vininss, Ga., 1937--3S; analyzed by Arthur T. Ness. Finished water, average of analyses of monthly 

composites of daily samples, 1937; analyzed by Paul Weir, Atlanta Water Works]

Silica (SiOj)- .................................

Iron (Fe). ._.-_______- _-___._.-_.___.....-_-..

Potassium (K) .......... ...-.........._.. ...

Bicarbonate (HCOs) ---------------------------

Sulphate (SO4)----------- --------.------.-

Chloride (Cl). ................. _.._________

Nitrate (NOj)... .......... ...... -........ .

Color . . .- ..... -._._ _. -_

Raw water (average)

Parts, per 

million

11 

.04

2.4 

1.1 

3.3 

1.1 

16 

2.7 

1.9 

.0 

.40 

33

11 

9 

207

Equivalents 

per million

0.320 

.090 

.144 

.028 

.262 

.056 

.054 

.000 

.006

Finished water (average)

Parts per 

million

4.5 

.09 

.02 

6.0 

1.6

j 3.0

16 

6.1 

1.9

.39 

40

22

Equivalents 

per million

0.001 

.300 

.132

.130

.262 

.127 

.054

.006

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Finished water ..........

Alkalinity

Av.

12 

15

Max.

15 

25

Min.

9 

13

pH

Av.

6.8 

8.5

Max.

7.1 

8.6

Min.

6.5

8.3

Turbidity

Av.

290

Max.

2,000

Min.

15

Temperature 3F,

Av.

64

Max.

85

Min.

39

AUGUSTA

[Population, 65,919] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Savannah River (intake on Augusta Canal).

Treatment: Coagulation with alum or alum and lime, ammonia, chlorine, rapid 

sand filtration, final chlorine at times, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime. 

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 15,000,000 gallons per day. 

Raw-water storage: 2 reservoirs, 60,000,000 gallons each. 

Finished water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 1,250,000 and 3,000,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is in northwest Augusta. The intake on the Augusta Canal 

is north of Augusta. The water is pumped from the canal to the raw-water reservoirs, flows from these reservoirs through the filtration plant to the clear-water 

wells, and from the clear-water wells to most of the distribution system. A small 

proportion of the water is pumped from the clear-water wells to the high service.
36 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Daily samples of the raw water were collected from the Savannah River near 

Clyo for the year ending April 30, 1939. This sampling point is about 150 river 

miles southeast of Augusta. There is some variation in the composition of the 

water throughout the year, but the mineral content is low at all times, and the 

average of the analyses of the water from the Savannah River near Clyo may be 

taken to represent reasonably well the composition of the river water at Augusta.

[A, Average of analyses of 10-day composites of daily samples of raw water from Savannah River near 

Clyo, Ga., 1938-39; B, raw water from Augusta Canal at waterworks intake, Jan. 18, 1938; C, finished 

water at filtration plant, Jan. 18,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar and Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiO.)---_

Iron (Fe).___________

Calcium (Ca)___- ____________

Magnesium (Mg)

Sodium (Na)-.. ---.....

Potassium (K)

Bicarbonate (HCOs)

Sulphate (SO4)------_--__

Chloride (Cl)____._

Fluoride (F)

Nitrate (NO3 )_____

Total hardness as CaCOs

Color. ______________

Suspended matter

A (raw water) average

Parts per 

million

11 

.05 

4.3 

1.3 

3.4 

1.2 

22 

3.0 

2.4 

.0 

.34 

41

16 

13

82

Equivalents per 

million

0.215 

.107 

.148 

.031 

.361 

.062 

.068 

.000 

.005

B (raw water)

Parts per 

million

12 

.09 

2.8 

1.4 

3.4 

1.1 

20 

2.0 

2.2 

.0 

.36 

38

13

8

Equivalents per 

million

0.140 

. 115 

.148 

.028 

.328 

.042 

.062 

.000 

.006

C (finished water)

Parts per 

million

12 

.03 

4.5 

1.7 

3.8 

1.1 

20 

6.3 

2.9 

.0 

.25 

43

18

Equivalents per 

million

6.225 

.140 

.165 

.028 

.328 

.131 

.082 

.000 

.004

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

18

Max.

22

Min.

11

PH

Av.

7.0

Max.

7.2

Min.

6.8

Turbidity

Av.

220

Max.

1,700

Min.

12

Temperature °F.

Av.

66

Max.

87

Min.

41

BAINBRIDGE

[Population, 6,352]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well (No. 3), 464 feet deep (yield reported to be 1,000 gallons per 

minute); emergency supply from 2 wells (Nos. 1 and 2), 950 and 450 feet deep.

Treatment: None.

Storage: Two reservoirs (Nos. 1 and 2), 114,000 and 90,000 gallons; standpipe, 

94,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. Well 3 regularly 

furnishes the supply. Wells 1 and 2 are connected with the system and are 

pumped a little each month to keep them in service. The water is pumped to 

the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the standpipe.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 37

Analysis 

[Collected Feb. 5,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica(SiO2) --------

Sodium (Na) -._ --

Potassium (K). ...... _ . 

Bicarbonate (HCO3)-.~-

Sulphate (SOO.- ---

Chloride (Cl).... .........

Fluoride (F)-_ ...........

Nitrate (NO»)~ -

Well 3

Parts per 

million

5.0 

.21 

36 

7.5 

5.7 

.6 

138 

3.3 

7.8 

.0 

2.9

Equivalents 

per million

1.797 

.617 

.248 

.015 

2.262 

.069 

.220 

.000 

.047

Total hardness as CaCOj.

Well3

Parts per 

million

134

121

70

Equivalents 

per million

464 

12 

1931 

100

BARNE8VILLE

[Population 3,535]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Little Towaliga River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, filial 

adj ustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 95,000 gallons; reservoir, 265,000 

gallons.

The filtration plant is located on Jackson Highway 1 mile north of the center of 

Barnesville. The intake is near the Atlanta Highway and about 1}^ miles northwest of the center of Barnesville. The water is pumped from the river to the 

filtration plant; flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water well; is pumped 

from the clear-water well to the distribution system and the reservoir.

Analyses 

[Collected May 3, 1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiOi)-. ....... ..........................

Iron (Fe). ---_-..----_._---_..-..____..___._

Calcium (Ca)_ _________ ..... ___ .. _ .

Bicarbonate (HCO3)- .... .. _ ..

Sulphate (SO4)-.. ...---..-.--.................

Chloride (Cl) _..,.. .........................

Fluoride (F)_. ........................... .....

Nitrate (NOs)_.__. ____________ ........ .. . __ -

Color. .........................................

Raw water

Parts per 

million

18 

.03 

2.3 

1.0 

3.8 

1.6 

18 

2.7 

2.4 

.0 

.52 

43

9.8 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.115 

.082 

.165 

.041 

.295 

.056 

.068 

.000 

.008

Finished water

Parts per 

million

16 

.01 

8.9 

1.0 

3.7 

1.8 

32 

5.2 

3.1 

.0 

.27 

58

26

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.444 

.082 

.161 

.046 

.524 

.108 

.087 

.000 

.004

449166 42-
38 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA 

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1938

Raw water __.-.. _ .

Finished water _ - 

Alkalinity

Av.

18 

28

Max.

19 

33

Min.

17 

25

' PH

Av.

6.8

7.7-

Max.

6.9 

8.3

Min.

6.7 

7.1

Turbidity

Av.

150

Max.

5,000

Min.

10

Temperature °F.

Av.

62

Max.

81

Min.

38

BRUNSWICK

[Population, 15,035]

Owner: Peoples Water Service Co. of Georgia, (controlled by Peoples Water 

Service Co. of Maryland, Baltimore, Md.).

Source: 4 wells, 1,027, 600, 456, and 456 feet deep.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: Reservoir, 140,000 gallons.

The two deeper wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. One of 

the 456-foot wells is located at Norwich and F Streets; the other at the foot of F 

Street. The total flow of the wells is reported to be 650 gallons per minute. A 

pump on the 1,027-foot well may be used to increase the discharge of this well to 

1,500 gallons per minute. When this well is pumped the other wells stop flowing. 

The water from the four wells flows to the reservoir and is pumped from the reservoir to the distribution system.

The three wells now reported to be 600, 456, and 458 feet deep were reported in 

1931 and in Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 658 as 750 feet deep.

Analysis 

[Analyzed by L. A. Shinn and N. A. Talvitie]

Silica (SiOj). .................

Chloride (Cl) .................

Nitrate (N03)- -----------

Total hardness as CaCOa. __

Depth (feet)-.--. ... ....

Date drilled. ....... ..........

Well at Grant and 

F Streets

Parts per 

million

37 

.02

56 

17 

15 

2.2 

146 

96 

16

.05 

312

210

Feb. 13,

1931

Equivalents per 

million

2.795 

1.398 

.652 

.056 

2.393 

1.999 

.451

.001

1,027 

12

60

Well at Grant and 

F Streets

Parts per 

million

37 

.19

42 

26 

17 

2.0 

143 

103 

18 

.5 

.0 

321

212 

75 

Jan. 23,

1941

Equivaalents per 

million

2. 096 

2.138 

.739 

.051 

2.344 

2.144 

.508 

.026 

.000

600 

8 

1918 

25

Well at Norwich and 

F Streets

Parts per ' 

million

25 

.02

33 

22 

19 

2.1 

138 

80 

16

.0 

270

175

Feb. 13,

1931

Equivalents per 

million

1.697 

1.809 

.826 

.054 

2.262 

1.666 

.451

.000

456 

6

8
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 39

BUFORD

[Population, 4,191]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Big Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, activated carbon, rapid sand 

filtration, chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 500,000 gallons per day.

RawTwater storage: Reservoir, 1,500,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 250,000 gallons; elevated tank, 

40,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located 4.2 miles north of the center of Buford. The 

intake is about a quarter of a mile north of the filtration plant. The water is 

pumped from the creek to the raw-water reservoir, flows from this reservoir through 

the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from the clear-water 

well to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Bona Alien, Inc., in Buford, obtains its industrial water from Suwanee Creek. 

This water is filtered, and the system is connected for emergency use with the 

Buford supply.

Analyses

[Collected Sept. 8,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Sulphate (S04)-. ---------------------------

Chloride (Cl).... . _._______ .................

Nitrate (NOsl... ... .-. .-.-.-..-..... .......

Raw water

Parts per 

million

9.4 

.02 

4.5 

1.0 

1.9 

1.8 

20 

2.5 

1.6 

.0 

.20 

33

15 

6

Equivalents 

per million

6.225 

.082 

.083 

.046 

.328 

.052 

.045 

.000 

.003

Finished water

Pnrts per 

million

7.5

.06 

15 

1.1 

1.8 

2.1 

25 

24 

1.5 

.0 

.25 

69

42 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.749 

.090 

.078 

.054 

.410 

.500 

.042 

.000 

.004

Regular determinations at the filtration plan

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

20 

22

Max.

24 

27

Min.

13 

12

pH

Av.

7.3 

8.2

Max.

7.4 

8.4

Min.

6.9 

8.0

Turbidity

Av.

115

Max.

500

Min.

25

CAIRO

[Population, 4,653]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well (No. 2) 870 feet deep (yield reported to be 400 gallons per minute) ; emergency supply from a well (No. 1) 750 feet deep. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 72,000 and 100,000 gallons; elevated tank, 60,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

to the reservoiis and from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the elevated 

tank.
40 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analysis 

[Collected Feb. 4, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj)___ .......... .

Sodium (NB)-----.-----

Bicarbonate (HCO3).....

Sulphate (SCU)-----..--.-

Chloride (Cl)... .......

Fluoride (F)____ ..........

Nitrate (NOs). ........

Well 2

Parts per 

million

16 

.03 

132 

71 

69 

5.6 

150 

522 

75 

.4 

.28

Equivalents per 

million

6.588 

5.839 

3.000 

.143 

2.459 

10.868 

2.115 

.021 

.004

Total dissolved solids. _ . 

Total hardness as CaCOj.

Well2

Parts per 

million

1,030

621 

76

Equivalents per 

million

870 

12 

1928 

100

CANTON

[Population, 2,651]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also North Canton. Total population supplied, about 3,000.

Source: Etowah River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, chlorination, rapid sand filtration, 

final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration: 500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 800,000 gallons (available 400,000 gallons).

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 200,000 gallons; standpipe, 200,000 

gallons; elevated tank, 60,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the river in Canton. The water 

is pumped from the river to the raw-water reservoir, flows from this reservoir 

through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from the cleartvater well to the distribution system and the standpipe. Water is pumped 

from the distribution system to the elevated tank, which is located in the eastern 

Section of the city and, in general, supplies the high service in that section.

The temperature of the raw water as determined at the filtration plant for the 

year 1937 ranged from 34° to 79° F., with an average of 58°.

Analyses 

[Collected May 20, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiO3) -.- . ......................

Calcium (Ca)-. .. . -...-... ....

Sodium (Na) - .- - . .-.-...-__.

Sulphate (SOi).. ..............................

Chloride (Cl)..... ............. .................

Fluoride (F) ___________________________________

Nitrate (NO3)... . . ....... ........... .

Color.--.----.-.-----.-.--. _ ----- __ .......

Raw water

Parts per 

million

8.9 

.03 

3.2 

.9

| 2.8

18 

1.2 

1.1 

.0 

.30 

27

12 

5

Equivalents 

per million

0.160 

.074

.122

.295 

.025 

.031 

.000 

.005

Finished water

Parts per 

million

7.7 

.02 

7.6 

.9

2.8

22 

8.2 

1.5 

.0. 

.08 

41

23 

 2

Equivalents 

per million

0.379 

.074

.122

.361 

.171 

.042 

.000 

.001
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 41

CARROM/TON

[Population, 6,214]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Little Tallapoosa River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, ammonium sulphate, chlorine, 

rapid sand filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 150,000 gallons; standpipe, 125,000 

gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the river 1.2 miles north of the 

center of Carrollton. The water is pumped from the river to the filtration plant, 

flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from the 

clear-water well to the distribution system and the standpipe.

Analyses 

[Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj) ._-

Sodium (Na) __.- _. _..__ .__ 

Sulphate (SO4) _--_---___ -____ -___---__

Chloride (Cl)._. ...............................

Fluoride(F)__ .... ......._....-............

Nitrate(NO3)~ - - 

Color..--.--..---.--.----. -.--- ----...-.

Raw water

Parts per 

million

13 

.31 

3.1 

1.2 

3.0 

1.2 

19 

3.0 

1.8 

.0 

.25 

38

13 

20 

Mar. 24, 1937

Equivalents 

per million

0.155 

.099 

.130 

.031 

.311 

.062 

.051 

.000 

.004

Finished water

Parts per 

million

11 

.01 

11 

1.7

J 3.0

. 29 

13 

2.4 

.0 

.39 

60

34

2 

May 6, 1938

Equivalents 

per million

0.549 

.140

.130

.475 

.271 

.068 

.000 

.006

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

18 

32

Max.

22 

45

Min.

15 

25

PH

Av.

6.8 

8.2

Max.

7.0 

9 2

Min.

6.5 

8.0

Turbidity

Av.

600

Max.

3,800

Min.

40

Temperature ° F.

Av.

61

Max.

80

Min.

36

CARTER8VHJLB

[Population, 6,141]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Etowah River (80 percent of supply) and a spring located at the 

filtration plant (20 percent of supply).

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, chlorination, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, at times final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.
42 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 50,000 gallons; reservoir, 1,100,000 

gallons.

The nitration plant and intake are located on the Etowah River about l}4 miles 

southeast of the center of Cartersville. The water is pumped from the Etowah 

River and the spring to the nitration plant, flows through the filtration plant to 

the clear-water well, and is pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution 

system and the reservoir.

Daily samples of the raw water were collected from the Etowah River about 

half a mile above the waterworks intake for the year ending September 30, 1939. 

There is some variation in the composition of the water throughout the year, but 

the mineral content of the river water is low at all times. Mining operations 

on the river above the intake increase the amount of suspended matter. The 

turbidity of the mixed raw water as determined at the filtration plant for the year 

1938 ranged from 25 to 1,800, with an average of 135.

Analyses

[A, Average of analyses of 10-day composites of daily samples from Etowah River near Cartersville, 1938-39; 

B, Etowah River at waterworks intake, May 3,1938; C, spring at filtration plant, May 3,1938; D, mixed 

finished water as furnished consumers, May 3, 1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar and Arthur T.

Ness]

Silica (SiOi) ...........

Sulphate (SOO ... ... .....

Chloride (Cl).... .........

Fluoride (F) .................

Nitrate (NOt).... ...........

A (raw water) 

average

Parts per 

million

11 

.03

4.0 

1.3 

2.8 

1.0 

22 

3.2 

1.5 

.0 

.21 

36

15 

6 

180

Equivalents per 

million

0.200 

.107 

.122 

.026 

.361 

.067 

.042 

.000 

.003

B (raw water)

Parts per 

million

10 

.05

5.2 

2.1

J 2.8

28 

2.1 

1.5 

.0 

.52 

39

22

8

Equivalents per 

million

0.260 

.173

.122

.459 

.044 

.042 

.000 

.008

C (raw water)

Parts per 

million

Q 1

.01

24 

14 

f 1.7 

\ 1.7 

136 

2.5 

2.6 

.0 

6.0 

126

117 

2

62

Equivalents per 

million

1. 198 

1.151 

.074 

.044 

2.229 

.052 

.073 

.000 

.097

D (finished water)

Parts per 

million

9.7

.01

10 

3.8

} 2.9

45 

6.1 

2.0 

.0 

1.0 

58

41 

2

Equivalents per 

million

0.499 

.312

.126

.738 

.127 

.056 

.000 

.016

CEDARTOWN

[Population, 9,025]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Cedartown Spring.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 2 standpipes, 185,000 and 1,575,000 gallons.

The spring is located at the waterworks pumping plant in Cedartown. The 

water is pumped from the spring to the distribution system and the standpipes.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 43

Analysis 

[Collected Apr. 19, 1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Bicarbonate (HCOi)-__-

Sulphate (SO«). ..........

Cedartown Spring

Parts per 

million

8.3 

.01 

30 

14 

1.7 

.5 

151 

3.4

Equivalents per 

million

1.497 

1.151 

.074 

.013 

2.475 

.071

Chloride (Cl) ............

Nitrate (NO»)- ~ ------

Total dissolved solids.. . 

Total hardness as CaCOj

Cedartown Spring

Parts per 

million

2.6 

.0 

4.2 

135

132 

62

Equivalents per 

million

.073 

.000 

.068

COLLEGE PARK

[Population, 8,213]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source and treatment: (a) 2 wells, Cambridge Avenue and Francis Street, 500 

and 485 feet deep; chlorination. (6) 3 wells, Wiley, Jackson Street, and Harvard 

Avenue, 300, 407, and 490 feet deep, auxiliary supply from 2 spring branches 

impounded in a 15,000,000-gallon reservoir; aeration over coke, coagulation with 

alum and lime, activated carbon at times, ammonia, chlorine, rapid sand filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime; rated capacity of filtration plant, 

800,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: 2 reservoirs, 100,000 and 300,000 gallons; elevated 

tank, 100,000 gallons.

The wells are located at separate points in the city. The water is pumped 

directly to the distribution system from the Cambridge Avenue and Francis Street 

wells. The water from the Wiley, Jackson Street, and Harvard Avenue wells 

and from the auxiliary supply, when that is used, is pumped to the filtration plant; 

flows through the filtration plant to the reservoirs; and is pumped from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses of water from Cambridge Avenue and Francis Street wells (34 percent of

supply) 

[Collected Sept. 12,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Bicarbonate (HCOs)- ---------------------

Sulphate (SO4 ). __ ...........................

Chloride (Cl).. ................................

Fluoride (F).. __ -.-...-.-.-.-.. ...- ..

Nitrate (NOj)..... .............................

Total hardness as CaCOj ___ . _ . _ .... _ ..

Depth (feet) .................................

Date drilled... - - ---------------

Cambridge Avenue well

Parts per 

million

22 

.02 

15. 

2.2 

7.7 

2.3 

56 

14 

2.9 

.0 

1.2 

98

47 

64

Equivalents 

per million

0.749 

.181 

.335 

.059 

.918 

.292 

.082 

.000 

.019

500 

8 

1924 

21

Francis Street well

Parts per 

million

30 

.05 

13 

2.9 

8.2 

2.3 

56 

14 

2.5 

.0 

.0 

104

44 

65

Equivalents 

per million

0.649 

.238 

.356 

.057 

.918 

.292 

.070 

.000 

.000

485 

8 

1923 

13
44 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses of mixed water from Wiley, Jackson Street, and Harvard Avenue wells (65

percent of supply)

[Collected Dec. 9,1940. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiO2).. ........... ..................

Iron (Fe)_ .....

Bicarbonate (HCOs) .......................

Chloride (Cl). ... _

Fluoride(F). ..................................

Nitrate (N O») 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

27 

1.3 

13 

2.6 

6.1 

2.0 

47 

15 

2.2 

.1 

.19 

91

43 

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.649 

.214 

.265 

.051 

.770 

.312 

.062 

.005 

.003

Finished water

Parts per 

million

24 

.49 

20 

2.6 

6.1 

2.0 

61 

22 

2.8 

.1 

.13 

117

61

7

Equivalents 

per million

0.99S 

.214 

.265 

.051 

1.000 

.458 

.079 

.005 

.003

COLUMBUS

[Population, 53,280]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also Bibb City and part of Bealwood. Total 

population supplied, about 56,000.

Source: Chattahoochee River.

Treatment: Aeration at times, coagulation with alum, rapid sand filtration, 

chlorination,'final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 10,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 45,000,000 gallons (also a series of dams on the 

Chattahoochee River above the intake).

Finished-water storage: 3 clear-water wells, 200,000, 2,500,000, and 3,000,000 

gallons; 2 standpipes, 300,000 gallons each.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the river about 4 miles north of 

the center of Columbus. The water is pumped from the river to the raw-water 

reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clear-water 

wells, and from the clear-water wells to the distribution system and the standpipes.

Analyses

[Collected May 11,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Iron(Fe) 

Calcium (Ca)._ . .__ . 

Potassium (K)_-_ __ _ __ ............. __ ....

Sulphate (SOi) ------------------------------

Chloride (Cl). ............. ...... ........... .

Fluoride (F) .. . ._._..__

Nitrate(NOs).. ... .. 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

9.9 

.01 

2.8 

1.1

| 3.8

17 

2.0 

2.1 

.0 

.96 

34

12 

6

Equivalents 

per million

6.140 

.090

.165

!279 

.042 

.059 

.000 

.016

Finished water

Parts per 

million

11 

.02 

6.9 

1.3

3.9

22 

8.6 

2.6 

.0 

.62 

47

23 

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.344 

.107

.170

.360 

.179 

.073 

.000 

.010
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1938

Alkalinity

Av.

15 

18

Max.

19 

22

Min.

11 ^12

PH

Av.

6.8

8.4

Max.

7.1

8.8

Min.

6.1 

7.0

Turbidity

Av.

90

Max.

280

Min.

15

Temperature °F.i

Av.

67

Max.

83

Min..

47

1 Results for the year 1937.

COMMERCE

[Population, 3,294] 

Ownership: Municipal. 

Source: Turkey Creek.

1 Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, 

final adjustment of pH.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 750,000 gallons per day. 

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 780,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 200,000 gallons; elevated tank, 

75,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located on the creek 1.7 miles southwest of the center of 

Commerce. The finished water is pumped from the clear-water well to the 

distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 21,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiO2) 

Iron (Fe)._ _ - .__ _ ...

Sodium (Na) -_ - ^

Potassium (K) .. _

Bicarbonate (HCOs) _ --- -

Sulphate (SO4) -------- -------

Chloride (Cl)..___ .-_-_______ - .

Fluoride (F) ..

Nitrate(N03) ---------------------------

Color.----...,. .. - .

Raw water

Parts per 

million

18 

.02 

2.0

.8

} 3.9 

15 

1.3 

1.8 

.0 

.74 

39

8.3 

5

Equivalents 

per million

6.100 

.066

.170

.246 

. .027 

.051 

.000 

.012

Finished water

Parts per 

million

16 

.02 

2.6

.8

4.3

10 

7.0 

2.2 

.0 

.55 

42

9.8 

4

Equivalents 

per million

0.130 

.066

.187

.164 

.146 

.062 

.000 

.009

CORDELE

[Population, 7,929] 

Ownership: Municipal. 

Source: 2 wells, 400 and 735 feet deep. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage-: Reservoir, 250,000 gallons; standpipe, 250,000 gallons.

Both wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from ,the weltetto asfcmsUtrap; then»flows-to the reservoir;-and is pumpedfrom4he 

reservoir to the distribution system and the standpipe.
46 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses 

[Collected Jan. 21,1938. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble. Well numbers assigned by Geological SurveyJ

B\a.pMtK(8Ot).. ...............................

Chloride(Cl).. ._ . . 

Nitrate (NO3)- ........ .......................

Depth (feet) . 

Datedrilled.... ...... ..........................

Welll

Parts per 

million

13 

.01 

44 

1.5 

3.4 

.5 

135 

1.4 

4.8 

.0 

3.2 

142

116

Equivalents 

per million

2.196 

.123 

.148 

.013 

2.213 

.029 

.135 

.000 

.052

400 

8 

1900 

70

Well 2

Part? per 

million

36 

.03 

48 

5.0 

2.8 

1.6 

162 

7.5 

2.6 

.0 

.05 

181

140

Equivalents 

per million

2.396- 

.411 .122- 

.041 

2.655- 

.156- 

.073 

.000 

.001

735 

6 

1905 

30

COVINGTON

[Population, 3,900]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies- also Oxford and about 270 other consumers 

outside Covington. Total population supplied, about 4,800.

Source: Dried Indian Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and soda ash, rapid sand filtration, chlorination.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 5,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 75,000 gallons; standpipe, 125,000 

gallons.

The filtration plant is located in Covington. The intake is about a mile north 

of the center of Covington. The water is pumped from the creek to the rawwater reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clearwater well, and is pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution system 

and the standpipe.

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 13,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj) 

Chloride(Cl).. 

Fluoride(F). 

Nitrate (NOs).. 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

15 

.10 

2.3 

.9

} I,

18 

.9 

2.1 

.0 

.78 

38

9.4 

10

Equivalents 

per million

0.115 

.074

.196

.295 

.019 

.059 

.000 

.013

Finished water

Parts per 

million

12 

.02 

2.6 

1.0

26

34 

34 

2.8 

.0 

.66 

94

11

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.130 

.082

1. 131

.557 

.708- 

.079- 

.000 

.011
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 47

CUTHBERT

[Population, 3,447] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 2 wells (Nos. 1 and 2), 500 and 480 feet deep. The yield of the wells 

is reported to be 300 and 266 gallons per minute. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: Reservoir, 120,000 gallons; elevated tank, 110,000 gallons.

Both wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. They are used 

alternately. The water is pumped to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the 

distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses 

[Collected Feb. 2,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiO2)_.._--___ .__.__....__.___.._-._._...

Calcium (Ca)__-__ __ .... _ .. ___ .........

Sodium (Na)_.--. ............................. .

^Bicarbonate (HCOa) ---------------------------

Chloride (01). ..................... ............

Fluoride(F). .............. ....................

Nitrate(NOs)-..- -.- -

Welll

Parts per 

million

16 

.19 

48 

3.7 

2.2 

1.1 

147 

15 

2.1 

.0 

.0 

160

135 

68

Equivalents 

per million

2.396 

.304 

.096 

.028 

2.410 

.312 

.059 

.000 

.000

500 

6 

1913 

50

Well 2

Parts per 

million

17 

.10 

50 

3.7 

1.6 

1.0 

152 

14 

2.1 

.0 

.0 

165

140 

68

Equivalents 

per million

2. 49S 

.304 

.070 

.026 

2.492 

.292 

.059 

.000 

.000

480 

6 

1925 

50

DAI/TON

[Population, 10,448]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Mill Creek.

Treatment: Ammonia and chlorine at all times; during dry weather coagulation 

with ferric sulphate, softening with lime, recarbonation, rapid sand filtration, 

chlorine; during wet weather coagulation with alum, rapid sand filtration, chlorine, 

final adjustment of pH by addition of lime. The turbidity of the raw water is 

used as a guide for softening, because the water is usually harder when the turbidity is low. Softening is practiced when the turbidity is below about 1,000. 

The softening is carried out to produce an effluent having a hardness of about 60 

parts per million.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 50,000 and 70,000 gallons; reservoir, 

750,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on Mill Creek 1.4 miles northwest 

of. the center of Dalton. The water is pumped from the creek to the filtration 

plant, flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water wells, and is pumped 

from the clear-water wells to the distribution system and the reservoir.
48 QUALITY OF'WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

There is considerable variation in the hardness of the raw water throughout the 

year. It is reported that the hardness of the raw water varies from 20 to 150 

parts per million.

Crown Cotton Mill obtains water from a spring supply and furnishes 500 to 

1,000 people in a mill village that is partly within the city limits of Dalton. The 

water is chlorinated and the system is connected for emergency use with the 

Dalton supply.

Analyses 

[Collected Jan. 5,1940. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble]

Silica (SiO2)- ... ... - .

Iron (Fe).___._ .......... ...

Calcium (Ca) _...._ _ _. .... ...

Magnesium (Mg)_. _ .. -._.---..

Sodium (Na)

Bicarbonate (HOOs).... .............. ...

Sulphate (SO4). ......

Chloride (Cl). ............. ... .

Fluoride (F). ..........................

Nitrate (NOs)... ........................ ...

Color. ............. __ ..... ...... .. ..

Raw water

Parts per 

million

7.5 

.01 

36 

10

} »i 156 

3.1 

1.5 

.1 

.25 

131

131

2

Equivalents 

per million

1.797 

.822

.052

2.557 

.064 

.042 

.005 

.004

Finished water

Parts per 

million

7.1 

.01 

9.1 

9.0

2.3

265 

8.3 

1.8 

.1 

.25 

61

60

1

Equivalents 

per million

0.454 

.740

.100

1.065 

.173 

.051 

.005 

.004

1 Includes equivalent of 5.9 parts of carbonate (COs).

2 Includes equivalent of 21 parts of carbonate (COs).

[Population, 3,681] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well 475 feet deep (yield reported to be 500 gallons per minute) ; emergency supply from a well reported to be about 400 feet deep. 

Treatment: None. 

Storage: 2 reservoirs, total capacity 482,000 gallons; elevated tank, 75,000 gallons.

Both wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from the wells to a sand trap at each well; then flows to the reservoirs; and is 

pumped from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analysis of water from well 475 feet deep 

[Collected Feb. 2, 1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiO2)_.. ._-__ _._

Sodium (Na)

Chloride (Cl)...__. ......

Fluoride (F)_.__ _____..__

Nitrate (NOj)-----..

Parts 

per 

million

24

no

3Q

4 9

7.5

2.0

.0

.05

Equivalents 

per 

million

1 947

.403

.326

.051

292

neQ

.001

Parts 

Eer 

lion

164

118

70

4

19

1

Equivalents per 

million

75

12

24

DO
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 49

DECATUR

[Population, 16,561]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also Avondale Estates. Total population 

supplied, about 17,100.

Source: Burnt Fork impounded in 16,000,000-gallon reservoir (95 percent of 

supply), South Fork Peachtree Creek impounded in 10,000,000-gallon reservoir 

(5 percent of supply).

Treatment: Activated carbon, coagulation with alum, ammonia, chlorine, 

activated carbon, lime for pH adjustment, rapid sand filtration, final chlorine 

when necessary.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 2,000,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 100,000 and 300,0.00 gallons; 

2 elevated tanks, 80,000 and 500,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on Burnt Fork 3 miles north of the 

center of Decatur. The South Fork Peachtree Creek supply is used in summer 

when necessary; when this water is used it is chlorinated and pumped into the 

Burnt Fork Reservoir. The water flows from the Burnt Fork Reservoir through 

the filtration plant to the clear-water wells and is pumped from the clear-water 

wells to the distribution system and the elevated tanks.

^Analyses of water from Burnt Fork supply 

[Collected May 7, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiO2) ------------------------- -----

Iron(Pe). _____._____._.....-_-__---.- -_._- -

Sodium (Na) -------------- ----------

Potassium (K) - --_ __ __- _- - _- 

Bicarbonate (HCOs) - ------ _ - ----- -

Sulphate (S O4) ..-. --__-__- _ -_-__ ....

Chloride (Cl)-_ ...........__.. ....._ -____-_

Fluoride (P). _____-- ____________ __.... - ...

Nitrate (NOs) . - .. .- -__ ... - -

Color......... ... _ ................ ______

Raw water

Parts per 

million

13 

.03 

3.9 

1.6

} ,,

25 

1.4 

2.0 

.0 

.67 

12

16 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0. 195 

.132

.178

.410 

.029 

.056 

.000 

.011

Finished water

Parts per 

million

12 

.02 

9.4. 

1.7

4.8

36 

7.5 

2.5 

.0 

.14 

57

30

5

Equivalents 

per million

0.469 

.140

.209

.590 

.156 

.070 

.000 

.002

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Raw water

Alkalinity

Av.

22 

30

27 

42

12 

20

PH

Av.

6.6

8.5

7.1

8.7

6.4

8.0

Turbidity

Av.

140 1, 500

Min.

20

Temperature °P.

Av.

61 86 39
QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

DOUGLAS

[Population, 5,175]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well 600 feet deep (yield reported to be 900 gallons per minute); 

auxiliary supply from another well 600 feet deep (yield reported to be 600 gallons 

per minute); emergency supply from an air-lift well.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 150,000 and 225,000 gallons; elevated tank, 60,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the elevated 

tank.

The analysis of the water from the well furnishing the regular supply most of 

the time is given below.

Analysis of water from well 600 feet deep 

[Collected Jan. 31,1938. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble]

Silica(SiOj) -

Sodium (Na) __ .- -_-..

Potassium (K)-_ __-__- 

Bicarbonate (HCO3)--.--

Ohloride (CI)... 

Nitrate (NOs) 

Parts 

per 

million

46

.01

48

19

7.9

1.5

79

6.8

.3

.0

equivalents per 

million

2.396

1.562

.344

.038

2

0QO

1 fi4*

.016

000

Depth (feet) --------

Parts 

per 

million

284

198

73

6

19

<

Equivalents per 

million

DO

10

28

)5

DUBLIN

[Population, 7,814]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 3 wells (Nos. 1 to 3), 490, 290, and 290 feet deep. The yield for well 1 

is reported to be 500 gallons per minute; for the other 2 wells the total yield is 

reported to be 150 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Aeration, ammonia, softening with lime, chlorine, recarbonation, 

rapid sand filtration. The softening is carried out to produce an effluent having 

a hardness of about 45 parts per million.

Finished-water storage: Reservoir, 500,000 gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 63,000 and 

250,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks. The water flows from the wells to a 

settling basin, is pumped from the settling basin to the treatment plant, flows 

through the treatment plant to the reservoir, and is pumped from the reservoir 

to the distribution system and the elevated tanks.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 51

Analyses of water from well 1 and of mixed water from wells 2 and 3 

[Collected Jan. 28,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOi).. . . 

Iron(Fe) 

Bicarbonate (HCOs) . 

Sulphate (SO4) . - -

Chloride(Cl) _ _ .-

Fluoride (F). _.-

Depth (feet) . 

Percent of sunnlv------. -------- __ ..-. ..-..

WeUl

Parts per 

million

23 

.83 

64 

3.6 

4.1 

2.6 

204 

16 

2.8 

.0 

.07 

213

175 

69

Equivalents 

per million

3.194 

.296 

.178 

.066 

3.344 

.333 

.079 

.000 

.001

490 

10 

1917

77

Wells 2 and 3

Parts per 

million

22 

.52 

70 

4.2 

4.1 

2.0 

224 

16 

2.8 

.0 

.05 

226

192 

69

Equivalents 

per million

3.494 

.345 

.178 

.051 

3.672 

.333 

.079 

.000 

.001

290 

4 

1890 

23

Analyses of mixed raw water and of finished water 

[Collected Jan. 28,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica(SiOj). 

Sodium (Na)~. 

Bicarbonate (HC'Oa)------.-- ------------------

Sulphate (SO4) -------- ---------------------

Chloride(Cl) ... ..

Fluoride(F) ... ... _ Nitrate (NOa) 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

26 

.56 

66 

3.2 

3.8 

2.0 

204 

16 

2.8 

.0 

.08 

220

178 

64

Equivalents 

per million

3.294 

.263 

.165 

.051 

3.344 

.333 

.079 

.000 

.001

Finished water

Parts per 

million

20 

.01 

12 

2.7 

3.4 

2.1 136 

16 

3.0 

.0 

.0 

78

41 

59

Equivalents 

per million

0.599 

.222 

.148 

.054 

.590 

» .333 

.085 

.000 

.000

1 Includes equivalent of 13 parts of carbonate (CO3).

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

-I fc!ctr J-aOl

Raw water ______ .... ....

Av.

160

30

Alkalinity

Max.

182

37

Min.

159

28

Av.

7.1

8.9

pH

Max.

7.3

9.7

Min.

7.1

8.7
52 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

EASTMAN

[Population, 3, 311] 

Ownership: Municipal. 

Source: 2 wells 705 and 405 feet deep. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: Reservoir, 135,000 gallons; elevated tank, 100,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumppig plant. The water is pumped! 

from the wells to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the distribution system 

and the elevated tank.

Collected Jan. 22, 1938. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble. Well numbers assigned by Qeolosrical Survey}

Silica (SiO2)- -------------------

Chloride (Cl). _____ ___- __-__-.__ -.

Nitrate(NO3) ~ - --- -

Temperature C^F )

Date drilled. ______ . ___ . _ ....... ...

Welll

Parts per 

million

30 

.07 

53 

2.2 

2.3 

1.7 

167 

6.7 

2.2 

.1 

.33 

185

142

70

Equivalents 

per million

2.645 

.181 

.100 

.044 

2.737 

.140 

.062 

.005 

.005

70S 

121,4 

1927

75

Well 2

Parts per 

million

29 

.23 

43 

2.2 

2.2 

1.2 

140 

1.2 

2.1 

.0 

.15 

153

117 

68

Equivalents 

per million

2.146- 

.181 

.096 

.031 

2.295 

.025 .059' 

.000 

.002-

405 

8 

1908 

25

BAST POINT

[Population, 12,403]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source and treatment: Well (No. 1) 500 feet deep (aeration, lime, ammonium 

sulphate, chlorine); 4 wells (Nos. 2, 3, 4, and 13), 500, 530,,684, and 250 feet deep 

(lime, ammonium sulphate, chlorine); 3 wells (Nos. 5, 8, and 12), 638, 400, and 

552 feet deep (aeration, lime, ammonium sulphate, chlorine, rapid"sand.filtration); 

well (No. 6) 490 feet deep (aeration, hypochlorite); well (No. 7) 500 feet deep 

(hypochlorite); well (No. 9) 510 feet deep (aeration); well (No. 10) 600 feet deep 

(no treatment); and well (drilled in March 1940) 400 feet deep (aeration, ammonium sulphate, chlorine). Auxiliary supply from 2 wells (Nos. 15 and 16). 

377 and 563 feet deep (lime, ammonium sulphate, chlorine) and from a spring 

(ammonium sulphate, chlorine). The yield of the wells (Nos. 1 to 10, 12, 13, 

15, and 16) is reported to be 180, 35, 60, 40, 50, 35, 40, 100, 50, 40, 50, 18, 25, and 

55 gallons per minute. The yield of the well drilled in 1940 and that of the spring 

are reported to be 110 and 25 gallons per minute, respectively.

Finished-water storage: Reservoir, 300,000 gallons; elevated tank, 500,000 

gallons.

Wells 1 to 4 and 13 are located at or near the waterworks pumping plant. The 

other wells are located in different sections of the city. The water from wells 

1 to 4 and 13 is treated, then pumped to the reservoir and from the reservoir to
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 53

the distribution system and the elevated tank. For the other wells and the spring 

the treatment used is applied at the source and the water is pumped to the distribution system. Auxiliary wells 15 and 16 are owned by Swift & Co', and are 

used at their Oil Mill Harper Plant. The city Supplements its regular supply 

with water from these wells when necessary.

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 12,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOi). - .. 

Potassium (K)... ...... .......

Bicarbonate (HCO3) -------

Sulphate fSO4 )- ... ...... .-

Chloride <C1). ................

Fluoride (F).._ .......... _ ..

Nitrate (NO3) .. .........

Total hardness as CaCOj ...

Silica (SiOj).. ................

Iron (Fe)_ -.. _ ------

Sodium (Na)-_ -.-.-.-_ ._

Bicarbonate (HCO3) ..........

Sulphate (SO4) . .. ....

Chloride (Cl)...... ...........

Fluoride (F)-. ......... ......

Nitrate (NOa) .--...- -.

Total hardness as CaCOs __

Depth (feet)... ...............

Date drilled. _.___.. ...........

Raw water

Welll

Parts per 

million

11 

.16

29 

7.3 

7.2 

2.6 

9.0 

84 

12 

.0 

9.0 

191

102 

64

Equivalents per 

million

1.448 

.600 

.313 

.066 

.148 

1.749 

.338 

.000 

.145

Well 5

Parts per 

million

29 

2.0 

1.7 

71 

20 

20 

5.4 

66 

239 

4.0 

.1 

.0 

449

260 

66

Equivalents per 

million

0.062 

3.544 

1.645 

.870 

.138 

1.082 

4.976 

.113 

.005 

.000

Well 8

Parts per 

million

27 

.41

14 

3.4 

7.4 

3.0 

40 

23 

8.8 

.0 

.0 

107

49 

63

Equivalents per 

million

0.699 

.280 

.322 

.077 

.656 

.479 

.248 

.000 

.000

Finished water

9.6 

.06

34 

6.8

} 8.5

20 

85 

13 

.0 

10 

200

113 

65

1.697 

.559

.370

.328 

1.770 

.367 

.000 

.161

500 

8 

1911 

42

23 

.05 

.0 

71 

18

22

53 

239 

4.0 

.1 

.0 

430

251 

68

0.000 

3.544 

1.480

.957

.869 

4.976 

.113 

.005 

.000

638 

10 

1926 

9

26 

.18

22 

3.4

7.5

59 

23 

8.5 

.0 

1.2 

130

69 

65

1.098 

.280

.326

.967 

.479 

.240 

.000 

.019

400 

10 

1926 

17

EAST THOMASTON

[Population, 3,590]

Owner: Thomaston Cotton Mill.

Source: Potato Creek. East Thomaston also purchases 720,000 gallons of 

finished water daily for 5 days a week from Silvertown. The raw water for the 

Silvertown supply is also taken from Potato Creek, and the composition of the 

finished water is about the same as that furnished by East Thomaston. (See 

also Silvertown.)
54 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Treatment: Ammonium sulphate, coagulation with alum or alum and soda 

ash, chlorine, activated carbon, rapid sand filtration, final adjustment of pH to 

7.2-7.3 by addition of soda ash.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir 10,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 15,000 gallons; 2 reservoirs, 200,000 

gallons each; reservoir used to supply processing water at the mill, 3,000,000 

gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 100,000 gallons each.

The filtration plant is located in East Thomaston. The intake is at the bridge 

on U. S. Highway 19 just above the Thomaston intake and about 100 yards 

below the Silvertown intake.

The system is connected with the Thomaston supply for emergency use. It 

is also connected with the Silvertown supply and at present is receiving water 

from Silvertown as indicated above.

Analyses 

[Collected May 3,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj).. _ _

Calicum (Ca). ... 

Bicarbonate (HCO3) ... _ . ---.-_

Sulphate (SO4 )_. ............. _ ..............

Chloride (Cl)... ........ .......................

Fluoride(F). ...... ............ ................

Nitrate (NOs) .... ..

Color...... .... ... ... _

Raw water

Parts per 

million

9.4 

.12 

2.8 

1.2

} «

19 

1.7 

2.2 

.0 

.64 

35

12 

8

Equivalents 

per million

0.140 

.099

.183

.311 

.035 

.062 

.000 

.010

Finished water

Parts per 

million

9.3 

.01 

2.8 

1.2

13

32 

9.6 

2.9 

.0 

.86 

54

12 

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.140 

.099

.565

.524 

.200 

.082 

.000 

.014

ELBERTON

[Population, 6,188]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also about 400 people outside the city limits. 

Total population supplied, about 6,600.

Source: Beaverdam Creek (tributary to Savannah River).

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, approximately 2,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 200,000 gallons; elevated tank, 

100,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the creek about 3 miles north of 

the center of Elberton. The water is pumped from the creek to the raw-water 

reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clear-water 

well, and is pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution system and the 

elevated tank.

At the time the samples were collected the pH of the finished water was being 

maintained at about 9.1 to prevent corrosion.
DESCRIPTIONS ANT) ANALYSES 55

[Collected Sept. 22,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOa) .... ...... ._._.-_.. __ .----...

Calcium(Ca) . 

Sodium (Na)_... __ __ .... _ ...... .... _ .

Bicarbonate(HCOj) 

Sulphate (SOO ... __ ...... .. ..

Chloride (Cl)..... .............................

Fluoride(F)... __ _

Nitrate flSTOj) - . ...-...-. ...-. ..

Color.... ............. _____ ..---..........

Raw water

Parts per 

million

12 

.02 

2.2 

1.0 

} 3.9

16 

1.9 

1.9 

.0 

.42 

33

9.6

4

Equivalents 

per million

0.110 

.082

.170

.262 

.040 

.054 

.000 

.007

Finished water

Parts per 

million

11 

.01 

11 

1.2

4.1

131 

12 

2.1 

.0 

.52 

59

32

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.549 

.099

.178

.508 

.250 

.059 

.000 

.008

Includes equivalent of 6.9 parts of carbonate (COj).

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937-38

pH

Av.

6.8

8.7

Mas.

7.2 

9.1

Min.

6.4 

8.4

Turbidity

Av.

120

Max.

750

Min.

125

Temperature °F.

Av.

61

Max.

82

Min.

39

1 Less than.

FITZGERALD

[Population, 7,388]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 2 wells, 576 and 825 feet deep. The yield of each well is reported to be 

500 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 3 reservoirs, 34,000, 120,000, and 750,000 gallons; standpipe, 98,000 

gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pugaped 

from the wells to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system 

and the standpipe.
56 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses 

[Collected Feb. 1,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar. Well numbers assigned by Geological Survey]

Silica (SiO2) ----- _------_---_-__-__-_______

Iron (Fe)_--.---__ ___________ __________

"Sodium (Na)_._ _ _____ __ ______

Bicarbonate (HCO3) ------ -- -__.---__--

Sulphate (SO.)_-____--.-_______________________

Chloride (Cl)__ ________ ________________ ___.

Fluoride (F) ___________________________________

Nitrate (NO3)__----_-------- _ -_

Depth (feet)_______. _._____-._________.____ ___

Date drilled___. .__. ___________________________

Welll

Parts per 

million

22 

.02 

24 

8.4 

3.0 

.6 

120 

1.6 

2.5 

.0 

.06 

122

94 

71

Equivalents 

per million

1.198 

.691 

.130 

.015 

1.967 

.033 

.070 

.000 

.001

576 

10 

1921 

50

Well 2

Parts per 

million

23 

.01 

22 

9.6 

3.4 

1.0 

118 

2.4 

2.6 

.0 

.10 

116

94 

71

Equivalents 

per million

1.098 

.790 

.148 

.026 

1.934 

.050 

.073 

.000 

.002

825 

10 

1898 

50

FORT VAULEY

[Population, 4,953]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well 500 feet deep (yield reported to be 450 to 500 gallons per minute); 

auxiliary supply from another well 500 feet deep; emergency supply from 4 wells 

325 to 475 feet deep.

Treatment: Aeration, chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of limeFinished-water storage: 2 reservoirs, 187,000 and 200,000 gallons; elevated 

tank, 200,000 gallons.

The wells are located either at or near the waterworks treatment and pumping 

plant. The water is pumped to the treatment plant, flows through the treatment 

plant to the reservoirs, and is pumped from the reservoirs to the distribution 

system and the elevated tank.

Analyses 

[Collected Jan. 20, 1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiO2)-_ _____________________ __._,_.__._.

Sodium (Na). __ _' ___ __________ __

Bicarbonate (HCO3) ---------------------------

Chloride (Cl) __________________________________

Fluoride (F). ______--__-__--_-___-_-___-.______

Nitrate (NO.) -

Datedrilled___. _ ...... ......... ........

Raw water

Parts per 

million

6.8 

.01 

1.1 

.6 

1.4 

.4 

3.0 

2.4 

1.9 

.0 

1.5 

19

5.2 

65

Equivalents 

per million

0.055 

.049 

.061 

.010 

.049 

.050 

.054 

.000 

.024

Finished water

Parts per 

million

7.5 

.01 

3.7 

.6 

1.3 

.3 

11 

2.5 

1.9 

.0 

.97 

24

12 

63

Equivalents 

per million

0.185 

.049 

.056 

.008 

.180 

.052 

.054 

.000 

.016

500 

18 

1936 

99
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 57

GAINE8VIH.B

[Population, 10,243]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also about 1,000 people outside the city limits. 

Total population supplied, about 11,200.

Source: Crier Creek (45 percent of supply), Peeler Branch (15 percent of supply), 

and Chattahoochee River (40 percent of supply).

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, rapid sand filtration, chlorination.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 2,000,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 480,000 gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 

210,000 and 300,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located on Peeler Branch 3.4 miles northeast of the center 

of Gainesville. A reservoir impounding about 3,000,000 gallons is on Peeler 

Branch at the filtration plant. The water from Crier Creek and that from the 

Chattahoochee River are also fed to this reservoir, and the mixed water flows from 

this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clear-water well. It is pumped 

from the clear-water well to the distribution system and the elevated tanks.

The system is connected for emergency use with the water supply at the Gainesville Cotton Mills and with the water supply at the New Holland Mills.

Analyses 

[Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOs). ........ ........

Calcium (Ca).._ _____ ...

Magnesium (Mg)... ........

Sodium (Na) -. __. 

Potassium (K)__ ______

Bicarbonate (HCOs)--. _ --

Sulphate (SOO .. _.. 

Chloride (Cl)_____. ..........

Fluoride(F)..... ....

Nitrate (NOj). ....... ... .

Total hardness as OaCOs ....

Crier Creek 

(raw water)

Parts 

per 

million

12 

.03

1.5 

.6

} 3.2

12 

1.6 

1.1 

.0 

.08 

26

6.2

5 

Sept. 8, 

1938

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.075 

.049

.139

.197 

.033 

.031 

.000 

.001

Peeler Branch 

(raw water)

Parts 

per 

million

7.9

.01

.8 

.5 

2.4

7.0 

.9 

1.6 

.0 

.30 

18

4.0

4 

Sept. 8, 

1938

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.040 

.041

.104

.115 

.019 

.045 

.000 

.005

Chattahoochee 

River (raw water)

Parts 

per 

million

9.4

.01

2.0 

.9 

( 2.5 U' 7

3.5 

1.6 

.0 

.83 

27

8.7 

5 

June 3, 

1937

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.100 

.074 

.109 

.018 

.164 

.073 

.045 

.000 

.013

Finished water

Parts 

per 

million

9.3

.02

5.6 

.6 } »

13 

10 

1.5 

.0 

.05 

37

16 

2

Sept. 8, 

1938

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.280 

.049

.135

.213 

.208 

.042 

.000 

.001

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

April to December 1937

Finished water. . .........

Alkalinity

Av.

8 

9

Max.

11 

11

Min.

7 

6

pH

Av.

6.8 

6.9

Max.

7.0 

7.0

Min.

6.4

6.7

Turbidity

Av.

40

Max.

500

Min.

10

Temperature °F.

Av.

68

Max.

77

Min.

48
58 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

GRIFFIN

[Population 13.222]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Flint River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, activated carbon, rapid sand filtration, 

chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 4,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 1,500,000 gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 

275,000 and 300,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is about \% miles west of the center of Griffin. The intake 

is about 9 miles west of the center of Girffin. The water is pumped from the river 

to the filtration plant, flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, 

and is pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution system and the 

elevated tanks.

Analyses 

[Collected May 2, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Iron (Fe)-.- . _ --.-. ............ ...... ..

Sodium (Na) __________________

Potassium (K)_. ....... ...... ..................

Bicarbonate (HCOs).-. ___ . __ . .. ..

Sulphate (S0t)...... ...........................

Chloride (01). .......................... _......

Fluoride (F). .... _ . __ __ ...... _ .......

Nitrate (NOs).... ... .. .................

Color. . . .

Raw water

Parts per 

million

15 

.06 

4.8 

1.9 

4.3 

1.5 

30 

1.6 

2.0 

.0 

.66 

51

20 

8

Equivalents 

per million

0.240 

.156 

.187 

.038 

.492 

.033 

.056 

.000 

.011

Finished water

Parts per 

million

16 

.01 

9.5 

1.9 

4.2 

1.4 

36 

7.1 

2.6 

.0 

.57 

62

32 

1

Equivalents 

per million

0.474 

.156 

.183 

.036 .590- 

.148 

.073 

.000 

.009'

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

20 

24

Max.

26 

30

Min.

10 

15

PH

Av.

6.8 

8.2

Max.

7.1 

8.6

Min.

6.3

7.7

Turbidity

Av.

125

Max.

1,500

Min.

20

Temperature °F.

Av.

64

Mas.

80

Min.

42-

HAPEVTLIJE

[Population, 5,059]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 5 wells (Atlanta Avenue, Jonesboro Road, Clay Place, Sims Street, and 

Oakdale Road), 800, 600, 825, 600, and 616 feet deep (98 percent of supply). 

The yield of these wells is reported to be 100, 75, 72, 70, and 35 gallons per minute. 

Auxiliary supply from Fulton Avenue well, 600 feet deep.

Treatment: None.

Storage: Elevated tank, 100,000 gallons. .

The wells are located in different sections of the city. The water is pumped 

from the wells to the distribution system and the elevated tank.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 59

The system is connected with the Atlanta supply and receives an average of 

several thousand gallons per day of the finished surface water from Atlanta. 

(See also Atlanta.)

Analyses

[Collected May 2,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOi) 

Iron (Fe)-.. T 

Sulphate (SOt). ..............

Chloride (Cl). 

Fluoride (F)-_ _ .......

Nitrate (NOj)- - ...

Total hardness as CaCOs __

Depth (feet)- 

Date drilled. ...... .. ....

Atlanta Avenue well

Parts per 

million

34 

.05 

20 

3.2 

11 

2.2 

93 

10 

1.8 

.1 

.0 

128

63 

66

Equivalents per 

million

0.998 

.263 

.478 

.056 

1.524 

.208 

.051 

.005 

.000

800 

10 

1931 

34

Jonesboro Road well

Parts per 

million

34 

.04 

13 

5.8 

7.6 

5.3 

80 

9.3 

2.5 

.0 

.08 

115

56 

64

Equivalents per 

million

0.649 

.477 

.330 

.136 

1.311 

.194 

.070 

.000 

.001

600ia

1930 

30

Sims Street well

Parts per 

million

33 

.27 

11 

4.5 

6.6 

3.0 

64 

7.0 

2.5 

.0 

.22 

97

46 

63

Equivalents per 

million

0.549 

.370 

.287 

.077 

1.049 

.14& 

.07fr 

.000 

.004

600 

10 

1925 

2

LAFAYETTE

[Population, 3,509]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also about 200 people in Linwood. Total 

population supplied, about 3,700.

Source: Spring at waterworks pumping plant. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: Reservoir, 225,000 gallons.

The spring and water works pumping plant are located about 1 mile from 

the center of Lafayette. The spring is surrounded by a large collecting basin. 

The water is pumped from the collecting basin to the distribution system and 

the reservoir.

Analysis 

[Collected Apr. 20,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiOt) .............

Bicarbonate (HCOs)- __

Spring

Parts per 

million

6.9 

.18 

22 

7.5 

1.1 

.5 

99 

2.4

Equivalents 

per million

1.098 

.617 

.048 

.013 

1.623 

.050

Chloride (Cl)___ ..........

Fluoride (F)____ _____

"Witrato fKTO^

Total dissolved solids..... 

Total hardness as CaCOs.

Spring

Parts per 

million

1.6 

.0 

3.1 

94

86 

5 

62

Equivalents 

per million

0.045 

.000 

.05&
60 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

LA GRANGE

[Population, 21,983]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source and treatment: Long Cane Creek (88 percent of supply); coagulation 

with alum, activated carbon, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, final adjustment 

of pH by addition of lime. Well 370 feet deep (12 percent of supply); chlorination.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 2,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 6,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 225,000 gallons; standpipe, 330,000 

gallons.

The filtration plant is located about 2 miles southeast of the center of La 

Grange, and the intake about 2 miles southeast of the filtration plant. The water 

is pumped from the creek to the raw water reservoir, flows from this reservoir 

through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from the clearwater well to the distribution system and the standpipe.

The well is located on Springdale Drive. The water from the well is pumped 

directly to the distribution system and in general supplies the west end of the city.

Analyses of water from Long Cane Creek 

[Collected May 16,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica(SiO») 

Iron (Fe).. _ .......-... .- ........... _ .

Calcium (Ca) .._- . __ ... . _ . _____ . ....

Sodium(Na) _ . - _.____.-.-

Bicarbonate (HCOs).. ___ - _ - _ ...... __ .

Sulphate (SO4) ,. - -

Chloride (Cl)__. ...............................

Fluoride(F) ...................................

Nitrate(NOj) . . ...........

Color. ... ___ .... _ --.-.. _ .... __ .....

Raw water

Parts per 

million

21 

.05 

.01 

4,7 

2.0 

4.4 

1.1 

31 

2.6 

1.9 

.0 

.32 

54

20 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.000 

.235 

.164 

.191 

.028 

.508 

.052 

.054 

.000 

.005

Finished water

Parts per 

million

19 

.01 

.09 

9.8 

1.9 

4.3 

1.0 

40 

5.8 

2.1 

.0 

.14 

68

32 

1

Equivalents 

per million

0.003 

.489 

.156 

.187 

.026 

.656 

.121 

.059 

.000 

.002

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1938

Alkalinity

Av.

29 

38

Max.

34 

48

Min.

18 

28

PH

Av.

6.9

8.8

Max.

7.2 

9.0

Min.

6.6

8.4

Turbidity

Av.

50

Max.

800

Min.

30

Temperature °F.

Av.

62

Max.

82

Min.

34
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 61

Analysis of water from well 870 feet deep 

[Collected June 23,1932. Analyzed by E. W. Lohr]

Silica (SiO2) _ -

Iron (Fe)_. ___ _

Magnesium (Mg)__ __

Sodium (Na) __ . _

Chloride (Cl)___ ..........

Nitrate (NO3) _. ......

Parts per 

million

43

.01

11

3.9 

1.0

109

3 q

2.8

2.0

Equivalents 

per million

0.948

.905

.170 

.026

1 7S7

OfiQ

.032

Date drilled. __ .... _ -

Parts per 

million

137

93

3

19

Equivalents 

per million

70

10

23

12

LINDALE

[Population, 3,361]

Owner: Pepperell Manufacturing Co.

Source: Main Spring station, supplied by Lindale Spring and Silver Creek 

Spring; Meadow station, supplied by 5 wells (Nos. 1 to 5), 275, 153, 126, 125, and 

75 feet deep, and Van Tassel Spring. The yield of the wells is reported to be 44, 

50, 50, 50, and 50 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 2 reservoirs (Nos. 1 and 2), 960,000 and 1,450,000 gallons.

The springs and wells are located in Lindale. The water from Silver Creek 

Spring flows to the collecting basin surrounding the Lindale Spring at the Main 

Spring pumping station. The water from this collecting basin is pumped to the 

distribution system and the reservoirs. The water is pumped from the wells and 

flows from the Van Tassel Spring to the collecting basin at the Meadow pumping 

station. The mixed water is pumped to the distribution system and the reservoirs,

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 19,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj).. ................

Iron (Fe).._ .._._____..__.

Calcium (Ca)_. .._-.....-.....

Magnesium (Mg) _ . ... ...

Sodium (Na)_.._. _ ... __ .

Potassium (K) ,. . ..

Bicarbonate (HCO3).__ _ . ...

Sulphate (SO4). ..............

Chloride (Cl) ........ .....

Fluoride (F). ..-.... ...

Nitrate (NOs) -____.

Total hardness as CaCOa--..-

Depth (feet) ... .........

Date drilled-.... ..........

Lindale Spring and 

Silver Creek Spring

Parts per 

million

7.0 

.02 

40 

9.3 

1.3 

.6 

158 

2.6 

3.4 

.0 

2.2 

147

138 

64

Equivalents per 

million

1.996 

.765 

.056 

.015 

2.590 

.054 

.096 

.000 

.036

57

Wells 1 to 5

Parts per 

million

7.7 

.05 

41 

14 

1.5 

.9 

190 

2.1 

1.6 

.0 

2.2 

162

160 

62

Equivalents per 

million

2.046 

1.151 

.065 

.023 

3.114 

.044 

.045 

.000 

.036

75 to 275 

6 

1929 

35

Well 2

Parts per 

million

7.5 

.04 

33 

18 

1.5 

1.0 

185 

2.2 

1.6 

.0 

3.2 

158

156 

63

Equivalents per 

million

1.647 

1.480 

.065 

.026 

3.032 

.046 

.045 

.000 

.052

153 

6 

1929
QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

MACON

[Population, 57,8651

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also about 10,000 people outside the city limits. 

Total population, about 67,900.

Source: Ocmulgee River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, ammonia, chlorine, activated carbon at 

times, rapid sand filtration, final chlorine at times, final adjustment of pH to 

about 8.2 by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 12,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 275,000 gallons; 2 reservoirs, 1,500,- 

000 and 3,000,000 gallons; 2 standpipes, 200,000 and 1,000,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the river about 3 miles north of 

the center of Macon. The water is pumped from the river to the filtration plant, 

flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from 

the clear-water well to the distribution system, reservoirs, and standpipes.

Daily samples of the raw water were collected from the Ocmulgee River at the 

filtration plant for the year ending April 30, 1938. There is some variation in 

the composition of the water throughout the year, but the mineral content of the 

river water is low at all times.

Analyses

I Raw water, average of analyses of 10-day composites of daily samples from Ocmulgee River at filtration 

plant, 1937-38; finished water, sample collected at filtration plant, May 4, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur 

T. Ness]

Silica (SiO2)__..-__--. -.- ..-.--._ ._...__..

Bicarbonate (HCOs) _ -- ________ _ _

Sulphate (SOO ~ . - , ..

Chloride (Cl). . . -._. _..._....._......_...

Fluoride(F). ........ ............... ..........

Nitrate (N03 ) .-.-. - .. .... ........

Color. ............... __ -- -. _-___-- -__.

Raw water (average)

Parts per 

million

12 

.06 

3.6 

1.6 

4.6 

1.6 

22 

3.9 

2.9 

.0 

.97 

44

16 

9 

95

Equivalents 

per million

0.180 

.132 

.200 

.041 

.361 

.081 

.082 

.000 

.016

Finished water

Parts per 

million

11 

.01 

8.8 

1.4

} 4.5

25 

12 

2.9 

.0 

.63 

56

28 

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.439 

.115

.196

.410 

.250 

.082 

.000 

.003

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

17 

20

Max.

19 

23

Min.

10 

15

pH

Av.

7.0 

8.2

Max.

7.2 

8.3

Min.

6.9 

8-1

Turbidity

Av.

160

Max.

1,900

Min.

18

Temperature °F.

Av.

65

Max.

86

Min.

33
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 63

MANCHESTER

[Population, 3,462]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: "New" reservoir on a tributary at head of Pigeon Creek (50 percent 

 of supply), and "old" reservoir on another tributary at head of Pigeon Creek 

(50 percent of supply). The reservoirs impound about 1,500,000 gallons each. 

Emergency supply from a well 538 feet deep.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, chlorination, rapid sand filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 500,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well 260,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located on Pine Mountain about half a mile south of 

Manchester. The reservoirs are located on Pine Mountain about 5 miles west 

of the center of Manchester. The water flows from the reservoirs through the 

filtration plant to the clear-water well and from the clear-water well to the distribution system.

The well is located in Manchester, at the high school, on State Highway 41. 

When the well water is used it is pumped to the raw water line supplying the 

filtration plant.

Analyses

(Analyzed by William L. Lamar and Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj). ...... . ......

Iron(Fe).-- _ ._ ...........

Calcium (Ca) _ ,... ...

.Sodium (Na)-... .. ___ .

Bicarbonate (HOOs) -

-Sulphate (SOi)... _ ......

Chloride (Cl)___._____________

Fluoride (P) _...... ...........

Nitrate (NO»)---~ 

Total hardness as OaOOj. .... 

Color............. ...........

Date of collection. ...........

"New" reservoir (raw 

water)

Parts per 

million

3.9 

.01 

.8 

.3 

1.5 

.5 

3.6 

.9 

1.8 

.0 

.05 

15

3.2 

7 

May 11, 

1938

Equivalents 

per million

0.040 

.025 

.065 

.013 

.059 

.019 

.051 

.000 

.001

"Old" reservoir (raw 

water)

Parts per 

million

5.0 

.06 

.3 

.3 

1.9 

2

2!5 

1.6 

2.1 

.0 

.15 

15

2.0

Dec. 9, 

1933

Equivalents 

per million

0.015 

.025 

.083 

.005 

.033 

.033 

.059 

.000 

.002

Finished water

Parts per 

million

5.1

.04 

8.9

} 124 »

5.3 

2.6 

.0 

.20 

39

24 

3 

Aug. 1, 

1938

Equivalents 

per million

0.444 

.033

.104

.393 

.110

.073 

.000 

.003

1 Includes equivalent of.6.9 parts of carbonate (COa)

MARIETTA

[Population, 8,667]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 21 wells (Nos. 1 to 5, 7, 8, 10 to 12, 14 to 18, 20 to 25), 259, 293, 286, 

294, 392, 413, 272, 320, 301, 506, 506, 435, 500, 325, 910, 449, 382, 349, 330, 365, 

and 297 feet deep.

Treatment: None.

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 243,000 and 1,000,000 gallons; 2 standpipes, 500,000 

gallons each.

The wells are located in different sections of the city. For most of the wells 

the water is pumped directly into the distribution system; for wells 1 to 4 it is 

pumped to the reservoirs, and for wells 5 and 8 it may be pumped to the reservoirs 

or directly to the distribution system. The water from the reservoirs is pumped 

to the distribution system.
64 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses 

[Collected Apr. 22,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica <SiO2). .._...-

Iron (Fe)---_ - _ .........

Calcium (Ca)__. ..............

Bicarbonate (HCO3) .......

Sulphate (SO4; -.. . -~~

Chloride (Cl)..-.............

Fluoride (F)._. ....-..-...--..

Nitrate (NOs)-.... ... .... .

Total hardness as CaCOaDepth (feet).--.,.-. .........

Datedrilled----.-----------.

Silica (SiOj).. _

Sodium (Na) ------- ..._--

Bicarbonate (HCOj) . ......

Sulphate (SOO-- - 

Chloride (Cl)... ... -. .. 

Fluoride (F)_. ................

Nitrate (NOa). --------------

Total hardness as CaCOs. ....

Depth (feet).. ---------

Date drilled..- -.-...-..

Well?

Parts per 

million

38 

.08 

14 

6.4 

6.9 

2.0 

56 

1.9 

9.2 

.0 

19 

144

61 

62

Equivalents 

per million

0.699 

.526 

.300 

.051 

.918 

.040 

.260 

.000 

.306

413 

10

2

Well 18

Parts per 

million

34 

.09 

32 

10 

15 

3.1 

103 

25 

16 

.0 

28 

226

121

62

Equivalents 

per million

1.597 

.822 

.652 

.079 

1.688 

.520 

.451 

.000 

.452

910 

10 

1927

7

WellS

Parts per 

million

19 

.10 

6.0 

3.6 

3.1 

1.5 

31 

3.0 

4.0 

.0 

2.5 

59

30 

63

Equivalents 

per million

0.300 

.296 

.135 

.038 

.508 

.062 

.113 

.000 

.040

272 

10

6

Well 21

Parts per 

million

27 

.50 

10 

3.3 

5.4 

2.2 

40 

16 

1.8 

.0 

.20 

88

39 

62

Equivalents 

per million

0.499 

.271 

.235 

.056 

.656 

.333 

.051 

.000 

.003

382 

10 

1928 

4

Well 16

Parts per 

million

27 

.08 

7.3 

5.4 

4.0 

1.4 

58 

2.3 

1.5 

.0 

.10 

74

40 

62

Equivalents 

per million

0.364 

.444 

,174 

.036 

.951 

.048 

.042 

.000 

.002

500 

10 

1926 

3

Well 25

Parts per 

million

22 

.43 

9.8 

3.9 

12 

1.8 

33 

3.4 

15 

.0 

20 

119

40 

62

Equivalents 

per million

0.489 

.321 

.522 

.046 

.541 

.071 

.423 

.GOO 

.322

297 

10 

1937 

6

[Population, 6,778]

(a) Ownership: Municipal; supplies also Georgia State College for Women, 

Georgia Military College, and State Training School for Boys. Total population 

supplied, about 8,700.

Source: Fishing Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, activated carbon, ammonia, chlorine,, 

rapid sand filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 2,100,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 35,000 and 165,000 gallons; 

standpipe, 150,000 gallons.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 65

The filtration plant and intake are located on the creek about 2% miles west 

of the center of Milledgeville. The water is pumped from the creek to the rawwater reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the 

clear-water wells and, is pumped from the clear-water wells to the distribution 

system and the standpipe.

Analyses 

[Collected Jan. 19,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Iron (Fe)-_. _ 

Cnloride(Cl)-. 

Nitrate (NOa) ~ 

Color..-... .... ___ 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

20 

.03 

7.1 

3.8 

9.1 

1.9 

43 

5.6 

10 

.0 

.20 

80

33 

12

Equivalents 

per million

0.354 

.312 

.396 

.049 

.705 

.117 

.282 

.000 

.003

Finished water

Parts per 

million

19 

.01 

11 

4.0 

8.8 

1.7 

40 

16 

11 

.0 

.14 

92

44

pquivalents 

TSfer million

0. 549 

.329 

.383 

.044 

.656 

.333 

.310 

.000 

.002

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Finished water. ....

Alkalinity

Av.

47 

48

Max.

48 

52

Min.

30

14

PH

Av.

7.4 

7.6

Turbidity

Av.

95

Max.

400

Min.

5

Temperature ° F.

Av.

67

Max.

84

Min.

42

(&) Owner: Milledgeville State Hospital; supplies about 8,000 people at the 

hospital.

Source: Oconee River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and at times with alum and lime, rapid 

sand filtration, chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 40,000 gallons; reservoir, 1,000,000 

gallons; elevated tank, 150,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the river between the highway 

bridge and the Georgia Railroad bridge. The water is pumped from the river to 

the filtration plant and then flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water 

well. It is pumped from the clear-water well to the reservoir and from the 

reservoir to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Daily samples of the raw water were collected from the Oconee River at Milledgeville for the year ending April 30, 1938. This sampling point is about \% 

miles below the filtration plant. There is some variation in the composition of 

the water throughout the year, but the mineral content of the river water is low 

at all times.

Regular determinations on the raw water at the filtration plant for the year 

1937: Turbidity, 20 to 2,400; pH, 6.3 to 7.3.
66 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses

Raw water, average of analyses of 10-day composites of daily samples from Oconee River at Millcdgeville,. 

Ga., 1937-38; finished water, sample collected at filtration plant, Jan. 19, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur 

T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj) 

Iron (Fe)~ -- 

Sodium (Na)____--_-------- _ _--. -_____.._.

Potassium (K)_. _______________________________

Sulphate (804)- 

Chloride (Cl)...... ............................

Muoride (B1 ). __ ------ .. _ . __ ........

Nitrate (NOS).L._. .._.- __________.._ . -----

Total hardness as CaCOj . ___ . _ . ___ .

Color----- .-- - .....................

Raw water (average)

Parts per 

million

16 

.05 

4.1 

1.8 

5.1 

1.7 

27 

2.9 

3.2 

.0 

1.2 

51

18 

8 

173

Equivalents 

per million

0.205

.148 

.222 

.044 

.443 

.060 

.090 

.000 

.019

Finished water

Parts per 

million

16 

.01 

4.5 

2.1 

4.5 

1.2 

24 

6.5 

3.1 

.0 

.55 

50

20

Equivalents 

per million

0. 225 

.173 .196- 

.031 

.393 

.135 

.087 

.000 

.009-

MILLEN

[Population, 2,820]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 2 wells, 500 and 310 feet deep. The yield obtained from these wells if* 

reported to be 75 gallons per minute for the 500-foot well and 170 gallons per 

minute when pumped for the 310-foot well.

Treatment: None.

Storage: Reservoir, 200,000 gallons; elevated tank, 60,000 gallons.

Both wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water flows 

from the 500"foot well and is pumped from the 310-foot well to the reservoir. 

The flow from the 310-foot well does not produce sufficient head to supply the 

reservoir. The water is pumped from the reservoir to the distribution system and 

the elevated tank.

Analyses

[Collected Jan. 18,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar. Well numbers assigned by Geological Survey}

Silica VSiOj) . ... ... . ____.-......_.._..__

Iron(Fe)- .. __ ... ____ . _ __ . ... .

Calcium (Ca) ............... ..... ..... ......

Sodium (JSfa) _ ___ __ .. ___ . . ...

Potassium (K). __ _ _ _____ .... ..

Sulphate (SO4) ~ _ ... - _ -----------

Chloride (Cl).... .. . .. _____._..

Fluoride CF). __ ..... .......................

Nitrate CNO3) .:...... .. _____.__.

Depth (feet)-- .. _ ... ....... ............

Date drilled .11. '. .I..: .,. .-. ........

Percent of supply. __ .... _____ . ___ ..

Welll

Parts per 

million

37 

.05 

40 

3.2 

3.1 

2.2 

130 

11 

1.8 

.0 

.05 

165

113 

70

Equivalents 

per million

1.996 

.263 

.135 

.056 

2.131 

.229 

.051 

.000 

.001

500 

6 

1906 

94

Well 2

Parts per 

million

38 

.14 

42 

3.6 

3.7 

2.1 

139 

10 

2.5 

.0 

.05 

172

120

Equivalents 

per million

2.096 

.296 

.161 

.054 

2.278 

.208 

.070 

.000 

.001

r i ' 

310 '' '" w1927 

6 >
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 67

MONKOE

[Population, 4,168]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Jacks Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, activated carbon, rapid sand 

filtration, chlorination.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, about 1,250,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 77,000 and 78,000 gallons; standpipe, 159,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located in Monroe. The intake is about 1% miles north 

of the center of Monroe. Water is pumped from the creek to the raw-water 

reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clear-water 

wells, and is pumped from the clear-water wells to the distribution system and 

the standpipe.

[Collected Sept. 21,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiO2) 

Sulphate (SO4) . 

Chloride (Cl). ........... __ __

Raw water

Parts per 

million

10 

.02 

2.1 

.9

} 2.8

13 

1.4

1.8 

.0 

.57 

27

8.9 

3

Equivalents 

per million

0.105 

.074

.122

.213 

.029 

.051 

.000 

.009

Finished water

Parts per 

million

8.8 

.01 

5.0 

1.0

3.1

14 

8.1 

2.0 

.0 

.67 

36

17 

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.250 

.082

.135

.230 

.169 

.056 

.000 

.011

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

JL ceil J.yoo

1

Av.

12

15

Ukalinit

Max.

15

17

7

Min.

11

12

Av.

6.8

6.9

PH

Max.

6.9'

7.0

Min.

6.0

6.8

1

Av.

18

Purbidit1

Mas.

35

7

Min.

15

MOULTRIE

[Population, 10,147] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well 750 feet deep (yield reported to be 1,000 gallons per minute). 

Emergency supply from 2 wells, 598 and 690 feet deep. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 45,000 and 80,000 gallons; elevated tank, 150,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from the wells to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system 

and the elevated tank.
68 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analysis of water from well 750 feet deep 

[Collected Feb. 4,1938. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble]

Silica (SiO_)_._ _________

Iron (Fe) ________________

Calcium (Ca) - ____..__

Magnesium (Mg)

Sodium (Na) __ __ . _ ___

Potassium (TCt .......... 

Bicarbonate (TICO3) .. __ 

Sulphate (SO.K__ ...... 

Chloride (Cl)-__. ________

Fluoride (F) .-.__________

Nitrate (NO3)-------.--_-

Parts per 

million

23

.0

24

13

25

3.4 

135 

47 

5.9

.5 

.0

Equivalents per 

million

1.198

1.069

1.087

.087 

2.213 

.978 

. 166

.026 

.000

Total hardness as CaCOs

Temperature (° F.) ______

Depth (feet)_. _ . ____ . 

Diameter (inches) _.__ ..

Percent of supply __ .

Parts per 

million

200

113

73

7 

lc

1

Equivalents per 

million

50 

12

00

NEWNAN

[Population, 7,182]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Bolton Mill Reservoir, impounding 125,000,000 gallons.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and at times with alum and lime, ammonium sulphate, chlorine, rapid sand filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition 

of lime. During the summer copper sulphate and activated carbon, also, are 

used when necessary.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,500,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 250,000 and 1,250,000 gallons; 

elevated tank, 500,000 gallons; standpipe, 300,000 gallons.

The filtration plant and intake are located at the impounding reservoir about 

2 miles south of the center of Newnan. The water flows from the reservoir 

through the filtration plant to the clear-water wells and is pumped from the clearwater wells to the distribution system, elevated tank, and standpipe.

Analyses 

[Collected May 6,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOs) . - :. - 

Calcium(Ca)--.-- - - --.- ----.--

Bicarbonate (HCOS)- . ----- _ . ...

Sulphate (SOt).... ..................... .......

Chloride (Cl) ....... ...... .....................

Fluoride (F^ ............... ....... . . ..

Nitrate (NO3) ---- -..-- - - 

Total hardness as CaCO.-... ...__.____..____.__

Color...................... . . ..

Raw water

Parts per 

million

8.5 

.04 

2.2 

.9

| 3.7

15 

2.3 

1.6 

.0 

.30 

28

9.2 

8

Equivalents 

per million

0.110 

.074

.161

.246 

.048 

.045 

.000 

.005

Finished water

Parts per 

million

7.9 

.02 

6.7 

1.0

2.8

16 

9.8 

2.2 

.0 

.64 

41

21 

1

Equivalents 

per million

0.334 

.082

.122

.262 

.204 

.062 

.000 

.010

PELHAM

[Population, 2,579]

Ownership: Municipal. Leased to and operated by Pelham Public Utilities. 

Source: Well 680 feet deep (yield reported to be about 500 gallons per minute). 

Emergency supply from a well 710 feet deep.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 2 reservoirs, combined capacity, 180,000 gallons; elevated tank, 

60,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from the wells to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs_to the distribution system 

and the elevated tank.

Analysis of water from well 680 feet deep 

[Collected Feb. 4,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOs)_ ......... _ .

Iron (Fe)-.--- . ....._.

Sodium (Na).____ _ _ .

Sulphate (SO4)-_.._-..._

Chloride (Cl)_. ..........

Fluoride (F) .. __________

Parts per 

million

28

.02

37

18

4.1

2.0 

204

4.7

3.6

.0

Equivalents per 

million

1.847

1.480

.178

3.344

.098

.102

.000

Nitrate (N0»)_. ..........

Total hardness as CaCOj

Date drilled..............

Parts per 

million

0.05

186

166

6!

19

1(

Equivalents per 

million

0.001

50

10

51

)0

PORTERDALJE

{Population, 3,116]

Owner: Bibb Manufacturing Co.

Source: Yellow-River impounded.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and soda ash, chlorination, rapid sand 

filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of soda ash.

Rates capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 49,000 gallons; reservoir, 866,000 

gallons; 5 elevated tanks, 50,000 gallons each, and another elevated tank, 30,000 

gallons, the latter is suspended under one of the 50,000-gallon tanks.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the river in Porterdale. The 

water flows from the river through the filtration plant to the clear-water well; 

it is pumped from the clear-water well to the reservoir and from the reservoir 

to the distribution system and the elevated tanks.

[Collected Sept. 13, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOi)....... .......... ................ ..

Bicarbonate (HCOs)---. ....... .............

Sulphate (SOO . ... . . . ..................

Chloride (CI)____. ................ ............

F.uoride (F)_.. .. _ ._ _..._.__________

Nitrate (NOa) .. . - ---.-.. ..........

Raw water

Parts per 

million

14 

.02 

3.3 

1.2

} ,4

24 

1.6 

2.1 

.0

.82 

42

13

5

Equivalents 

per million

0.165 

.099

.235

.393 

.033 

.059 

.000 

.013

Finished water

Parts per 

million

15 

.01 

3.6 

1.4

11

32 

8.6 

2.8 

.0 

.66 

58

15 

2

Equivalents 

per million

0.180 

.115

.478 

.524 

.179 

.079 

.000 

.011
70 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Q HITMAN

[Population, 4,450]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well 312 feet deep (yield reported to be 1,000 gallons per minute); 

emergency supply from a well 642 feet deep (yield reported to be 750 gallons per 

minute).

Treatment: None.

Storage: Elevated tank, 150,000 gallons.

Both wells are located in the waterworks-well field in Quitman. The water is 

pumped directly to the distribution system and the elevated tank. The emergency 

well is pumped several hours each week to keep it in service.

Analysis of water from well 812 feet deep 

[Collected Feb. 7,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (Si02) _ .. - -

Iron (Fe)-___. -.__ _.._-

Sodium (Na) ...

Potassium (K)__________

Bicarbonate (HC Os). _. .

Sulfate(S04) - --.-...

Chloride (Cl). ...........

Fluoride (F) 

Nitrate (NOa).. .........

Parts per 

million

16

.01

40

10

2.4

.8

168

1.9

4.1

.0

.40

Equivalents per 

million

1.996

.822

.104

.020

2.754

.040

.116

.000

.006

Total dissolved solids... ._

Depth (feet).. _ _

Parts per 

million

154

141

69

3

]

19; K

Equivalents per 

million

2

2

!6

)0

ROCKMART

[Population, 3,764]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Euharlee Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and at times with alum and soda ash, 

rapid sand nitration, chlorination.

Rated capacity of nitration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 180,000 gallons; two elevated reservoirs, 180,000 and 250,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located on the creek in Rockmart. The intake is about 

half a mile above the filtration plant. The water is pumped from the creek to the 

filtration plant, flows through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is 

pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution system and the elevated 

reservoirs.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 71

Analyses 

[Collected Apr. 19,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (S1O») 

Sodium (Na) __________________

Chloride(Cl). 

Nitrato (NOj).. . 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

6.7 

.02 

18 

5.2

} 2.3

80 

3.0 

1.4 

.0 

.74 

75

66 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.898 

.428

.100

1.311 

.062 

.040 

.000 

' .012

Finished water

Parts per 

million

6.4 

.02 

17 

4.9

3.1

72 

7.2 

1.6 

.0 

.70 

75

63 

4

Equivalents 

per million

0.848 

.403

.135

1.180 

.150 .045' 

.000 

.011

ROME

[Population, 26,282]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Oostanaula River.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum or alum and lime, ammonia, chlorine, rapid 

sand filtration, chlorine, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 6,000,000 gallons.

Raw-water storage.: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 1,000,000 gallons; reservoir, 3,000,000 

gallons.

The filtration plant is located about 2 miles north of the center of Rome. The 

intake is about half a mile south of the filtration plant. The water is pumped 

from the river to the filtration plant, flows through the filtration plant to the clearwater well, and is pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution system 

and the reservoir.

Analyses 

[Collected Apr. 19,1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Silica (SiO») 

Calcium (Ca)___. ___________ ____ ..

Potassium (K)._. ______ . ___ . _____ .

Bicarbonate (HCO3)_ 

Sulphate (SOi) 

Chloride (Cl). __ . 

Fluoride (F)___ _._ .....

Nitrate (NO»).. _ ... 

Raw water

Parts per 

million

6.2 

.02 

11 

2.9 

2.0 

.8 

46 

4.8 

1.4 

.0 

1.1 

52

39 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.549 

.238 

.087 

.020 

.754 

.100 

.040 

.000 

.018

Finished water

Parts per 

million

6.2 

.01 

15 

3.1 

1.8 

.6 

28 

26 

1.5 

.0 

.83 

73

50 

1

Equivalents 

per million

0.749 

.255 

.078 

.015 

.459 

.541 

.042 

.000 

.013
72 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA 

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

43

Max.

62

Min.

14

PH

Av.

7.1

Max.

7.6

Min.

6.6

Turbidity

Av.

225

Max.

1,600

Min.

20

Temperature0 F.

Av.

62

Max.

82

Min.

37

ROSSVTLL.E

[Population, 3,538] '

Water furnished by the public supply at Chattanooga, Tenn.

Owner: City Water Co. of Chattanooga, Tenn. (controlled by American. Water 

Works & Electric Co., Inc., 50 Broad St., New York, N. Y.)

Source: Tennessee River. 

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, chlorination, rapid sand filtration, chlorination.

The Georgia-Tennessee State line separates Rossville, Ga., from Chattanooga 

Tenn. The City Water Co. of Chattanooga furnishes water to Chattanooga, 

Tenn., and Rossville, Ga. The filtration plant and intake are located on the river 

in Chattanooga. The intake is about 5}£ river miles below the Chickamauga 

Dam. The filtration plant has a rated capacity of 27,500,000 gallons per day. 

There is no finished-water storage in Rossville, but the system in Chattanooga 

has the following finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 1,250,000 gallons; 

reservoir, 3,500,000 gallons; 11 standpipes, total capacity 2,500,000 gallons.

Samples of the raw water were generally collected at about weekly intervals 

from the Tennessee River near Chattanooga by the Tennessee Valley Authority 

for the year ending April 1937. This sampling point is about 13 river miles below 

the waterworks intake. These analyses show an appreciable range in the composition of the river water throughout the year.

Analyses

Raw water, average of analyses of weekly samples from Tennessee River near Chattanooga, Tenn., 1936-37; 

analyzed by Tennessee Valley Authority. Finished water, sample collected at Chattanooga filtration 

plant Jan. 24, 1939; analyzed by William L. Lamar]

Sodium (Na)-__-___-. ___---- . _ -.----_-__--

Bicarbonate (HCO3 )_. __--.-. - .............

Sulphate (S04 ) -- - .-- - .. .--

Chloride (Cl)... .-.-_._. ________...

Nitrate (NOt')..... .............................

Color..-..-....,...........- .................

Raw water (average)

Parts per 

million

7.2 

.06 

19 

4.0

} 6.4

64 

7.2 

12

.41 

95

64

90

Equivalents 

per million

0.948 

.329

.278

1.049 

.150 

.338

.007

Finished water

Parts per 

million

4.4 

.01 

22 

4.2 

( 3.5 

I 1-2 

62 

18 

6.6 

.0 

1.2 

94

72 

2

Equivalents 

per million

1.098 

.345 

,152 

.031 

1.016 

.375 

.186 

.000 

.019
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

73

Raw water. ................

1

Av.

69

61

Llkalinifr

Max.

95

93

f

Min.

34

29

Av.

83

EardnesE

Max.

143

Min.

63

r

Av.

135

Durbidit;

Mas.

700

7

Min.

26

SANDERSVHJJE

[Population, 3,566]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 3 wells (Nos. 1 to 3), 250, 280, and 250 feet deep. The yield of the 

wells is reported to be 100, 100, and 150 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Chlorination.

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 120,000 and 87,000 gallons; elevated tank, 110,000 

gallons.

Well 1 is at the old waterworks pumping plant; well 2 is about a quarter of a 

mile to the east. Well 3 is at the new waterworks pumping plant, 1J4 miles south 

of the old pumping plant. The water is pumped from wells 1 and 2 to the 120,000- 

gallon reservoir and from this reservoir to the distribution system and the elevated 

tank. The water is pumped from well 3 to the 87,000-gallon reservoir and from 

this reservoir to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses 

[Analyzed by William L. Lamar and Wesley M. Noble]

Silica (SiOi). ... 

Iron (Fe)____.__. ....... ......

Calcium (Ca) .................

Magnesium (Mg) _ __ . .....

Sodium (Na) . ... _ .... ...

Potassium fK) _ ............

Bicarbonate HCOi ............

Sulphate (BO*). ..............

Chloride (01) .................

Fluoride (F)__ ............ ...

Nitrate (NOj). . ...........

Total hardness as CaGOi-.--.

Date of collection. __ ....

Depth (feet)-.. ...........

Date drilled- - 

Percent of supply ______

Welll

Parts per 

million

26 

.01 

73 

1.7 

5.2 

.5 

214 

9.5 

10 

.0 

.51 

241

189 

66 

Jan. 19, 1938

Equivalents per 

million

3.644 

.140 

.226 

.013 

3.508 

.198 

.282 

.000 

.008

250 

6

5

Well 2

Parts per 

million

33 

.01 

67 

1.6 

2.2 

.3 

206 

2.8 

2.6 

.0 

.20 

213

174

Jan. 19, 1938

Equivalents per 

million

3.344 

.132 

.096 

.008 

3.377 

.058 

.073 

.000 

.003

280 

8 

1928 

5

WellS

Parts per 

.million

14 

.01 

12 

.9 

3.0 

.6 

30 

2.1 

5.5 

.5 

4.8 

63 

34

Nov. 28, 1940

Equivalents per 

million

0.599 

.074 

.130 

.015 

.492 

.044 

.155 

.026 

.077

250 

8 

1919 

90

SAVANNAH

[Population, 95,996]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also about 4,000 people outside the city 

limits. Total population supplied, about 100,000.

Source: 8 wells (Nos. 14, 15, 17 to 20, 22, and 2*3), 500, 500, 500, 700, 603, 

525, 595, and 696 feet deep; emergency supply from a well (No. 21) 550 feet deep.
74 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

The yield of wells 14, 15, and 17 to 23 is reported to be 1,400, 1,000, 1,700, 3,000, 

3,000, 2,800, 2,800, 3,100, and 4,640 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Chlorination except for wells 17 and 21. The water from wells 17 

and 21 does not receive any treatment.

The wells are located in different sections of the city, and the water is pumped 

directly from them into the distribution system.

Analyses of water from wells 15, 17, 18, and 19 

[Collected Feb. 9, 1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiO2)-_ . _...-...

Iron (Fe)- .. .... .

Sodium (Na) ________ .

Bicarbonate (HCOs).

Sulphate (SO4) ------- . ....

Chloride (Cl). ...... ... .....

Fluoride (F)__ .....

Nitrate (NOs). 

Total hardness as CaCOa 

Temperature (°F.)_ _..._...

Depth (feet)...-.- _ .

Date drilled... ..............

Percent of supply. . . ........

Well 15

Parts 

per 

million

53 

.01

26 

9.7 

9.5 

1.4 

137 

6.9 

5.0 

.0 

.0 

173

105 

73

Equivalent? per 

million

1.298 

.798 

.413 

.036 

2.246 

.144 

.141 

.000 

.000

500 

10 

1916 

5

Well 17

Parts 

per 

million

53 

.0

27 

10 

11 

1.4 

145 

6.3 

5.2 

.0 

.06 

181

108 

73

Equivalents per 

million

1.348 

.822 

.478 

.036 

2.377 

.131 

.147 

.000 

.001

500 

15 

1920 

5

Well 18

Parts 

per 

million

52 

.01

27 

9.1 

10 

1.1 

137 

7.1 

5.5 

.0 

.0 

174

105 

71

Equivalents per 

million

1.348 

.748 

.435 

.028 

2.246 

.148 

.155 

.000 

.000

 612}$ 

18 

1927 

12

Well 19

Parts 

per 

million

53 

.01

26 

10 

10 

1.4 

138 

6.8 

5.8 

.0 

.0 

176

106 

73

Equivalents per 

million

1.298 

.822 

.435 

.036 

2.262 

.142 

.164 

.000 

.000

603 

20 

1937 

22

' Deepened to 700 feet in 1940. A partial analysis of a sample collected Jan. 29, 1941, is similar to the 

analysis given.

Analyses of waterfront wells 20, 21, 22, and 23 

[Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness, Charles G. Seegmiller, and L. A. Shinn]

Silica (SiOj).... .............

Iron (Fe) _____

Sodium (Na)

Potassium (K). .............

Bicarbonate (HC O3) ........

Sulphate (SOO ----- 

Chloride (Cl) .... .

Fluoride (F). ...............

Nitrate (NOj). ..............

Total hardness as CaCOs...-

Date of collection _ ..... _ .

Depth (feet).... ...... .......

Date drilled __ 

Well 20

Parts 

per 

million

54 

.01

27 

11 

10 

1.2 

145 

6.4 

6.0 

.0 

.0 

182

113 

67 

Feb. 9, 

1938

Equivalents per 

million

1.348 

.905 

.435 

.031 

2.377 

.133 

.169 

.000 

."00

----- - 

525 

15 

 1920 

4

Well 21

Parts 

per 

million

56

fid.

30 

11 

4.3 

2.0 

139 

7.2 

6.0

.10 

180

120

Mar. 9, 

1931

Equivalents per 

million

1.497 

.905 

.187 

,051 

2.278 

.150 

.169

.002

 

550 

12 

1923 

Emergency

Well 22

Parts 

per 

million

55 

.01

27 

11 

9.4 

1.4 

146 

6.7 

5.5 

.0 

.0 

183

113 

72 

Feb. 9, 

1938

Equivalents per 

million

1.348 

.905 

.409 

.036 

2.393 

.140 

.155 

.000 

.000

 ....

595 

20 

1935 

22

Well 23

Parts 

per 

million

50 

.01

25 

9.2 

13 

2.0 

135 

10 

8.5 

.4 

.0 

179

100 

73 

Jan. 29, 

1941

Equivalents per 

million..

1.248 

.757 

.565 

.051 

2.215 

.208 

.240 

.021 

.000

 

696 

20 

1940 

28
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 75

SILVERTOWN

[Population, 3,930]

Owner: Martha Mills (B. F. Goodrich Co.).

Source: Potato Creek.

Treatment: Ammonium sulphate, coagulation with alum, chlorine, rapid sand 

filtration, final adjustment of pH by addition of soda ash.

Rated capacity of nitration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 10,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 250,000 gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 

100,000 gallons each.

The filtration plant is located in Silvertown. The intake is near U. S. Highway 

19 and about 100 yards above the Thomaston and East Thomaston intakes. The 

water is pumped from the creek to the raw-water reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from the 

clear-water well to the distribution system and the elevated tanks.

The system is connected with the Thomaston supply for emergency use. It is 

also connected with the East Thomaston supply and at present is furnishing 

East Thomaston with 720,000 gallons of finished water per day for five days a week.

The chemical composition of the water is practically the same as at East 

Thomaston. (For analyses, see East Thomaston.)

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

Year 1938

Alkalinity

Av.

19 

29

Max.

22 

32

Min.

17 

24

PH

Av.

7.0 

7.7

Max.

7.1

8.0

Min.

6.8 

7.5

Turbidity

Av.

55

Max.

280

Min.

17

Temperature ° F.

Av.

63

Max.

81

Min.

42

STATESBORO

[Population, 5,028]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 3 wells, 561, 540, and 555 feet deep. The yield of the wells is reported 

to be 450, 300, and 350 gallons per minute.

Treatment: None.

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 40,000 and 185,000 gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 65,000 

and 150,000 gallons.

The 561-foot well is located in the City Park; the other two wells are located 

at the pumping plant at Hill and Mulberry Streets. The water is pumped from 

the wells to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system and 

elevated tanks.
76 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

[1, Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble; 2, analyzed by Arthur T. Ness; 3, analyzed by Pittsburgh" Testii^ 

Laboratory, Pittsburgh, Pa. Well numbers assigned by Geological Survey.]

Silica (SiO2). ------ ... ... ... ..

Iron (Fe)._.._ _ . ______

Calcium (Ca)... _ . _____ .

Magnesium (Mg) .............

 Sodium (Na). ...... .........

Potassium (K)-._- ...........

Bicarbonate (HCOs) ..........

Sulphate (SO4)._ .............

Chloride (Cl). ................

Pluoride (P) ........... . ...

Nitrate (NO,).. ..............

Total dissolved solids ........

Total hardness as CaCOj. ....

Temperature (°F.)__ ___

Date of collection. ............

Depth (feet).......... ___ .

Diameter (inches)... .........

Date drilled.... _______

Percent of supply. ............

Welll

Parts per 

million

62 

.06 

32 

5.2 

7.0 

1.3 

128 

6.7 

3.5 

.0 

.0 

180

101

Jan. 17, 

1938

Equivalents 

per million

1.597 

.428 

.304 

.033 

2.098 

.140 

.099 

.000 

.000

 ------

561 

15 

1927 

70

Well 2

Parts per 

million

57 

.04 

35 

5.9 

7.0 

1.9 

144 

6.3 

3.4 

.0 

.0 

188

112 

71 

Jan. 17, 

1938

Equivalents 

per million

1.747 

.485 

.304 

.049 

2.360 

.131 

.096 

.000 

.000

540 

10 

1916 . 

3

WellS

Parts per 

million

49 

.1 

36 

6.6

} ,3

146 

1.5 

8.0 

.0 

1.8 1183

117

Apr. 24, 

1939

Equivalents 

permiffion 

1.797 

.543

.317

2.393 

.031 

.226 

.000 

.029

 

555 

8 

1912 

27

»Calculated.

THOMASTON

[Population, 6,396]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Potato Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and soda ash, activated carbon, chlorination, rapid sand filtration, chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of 

soda ash.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 2,500,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 100,000 and 225,000 gallons; 

elevated tank, 75,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located in Thomaston. The intake is at the bridge on 

U. S. Highway 19 about 2 miles north of the center of Thomaston. The water 

is pumped from the creek to the raw-water reservoir, flows from this reservoir 

through the filtration plant to the clear-water wells, and is pumped from the 

clear-water wells to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

The system is connected with the East Thomaston and Silvertown supplies 

for emergency use.

Analyses 

[Collected May 3,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOa)....... _______ _ ... . .

Iron (Fe)_. ........

Calcium (Ca).._ __ . ...

Magnesium (Mg) .............

Sodium (Na)

Potassium (ET). ........

Bicarbonate (HCOs) .-.. 

Sulphate (SO4)..._..

Chloride (Cl). ................

Fluoride(F). ______

Nitrate (NOj).__.-_ .........

Color. ........ ...

Raw water

Parts per 

million

9.4 

.12 

2.8 

1.2

} «

19 

1.7 

2.2 

.0 

.64 

35

12

8

Equivalents 

per million

0.140 

.099

.183

.311 

.035 

.062 

.000 

.010

Finished water

Parts per 

million

8.7 

.02 

2.6 

1.2

35

66 

27 

2.9 

.0 

.54 

110

11 

3

Equivalents 

per million

0.130 

.099

1.522

1.082 

.562 

.082 

.000 

.009
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 77

THOMASVILUE

[Population, 12,683]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 3 wells (Nos. 2, 3, afid 4), 300, 550, and 305 feet deep, The yield of the 

wells is reported to be 500, 1,000, and 1,000 gallons per minute.

Treatment: Aeration, softening with lime and soda ash, bleaching clay, ammonium sulphate, chlorine, recarbonated to produce a final pH of about 8.7, rapid 

sand filtration. The softening is carried out to produce an effluent having a hardness of about 60 parts per million.

Finished-water storage: Reservoir, 500,000 gallons; elevated tank, 300,000- 

gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks. Only one well is pumped at a time. 

Well 2 is pumped very little; well 3 is pumped on Sunday; well 4 is pumped during 

the rest of the week. The water is pumped from the wells to the treatment plant, 

flows through the treatment plant to the reservoir, and is pumped from the 

reservoir to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses

[Samples from well 3 collected Mar. 13, 1932; analyzed by L. B. Lockhart, Law & Co., Inc., Atlanta, Qa* 

Samples from well 4 collected Feb. 5,1938; analyzed by Wesley M. Noble]

Silica (SiO8)_____. ___________

Calcium (Ca) _ ..........

Sodium (Na) ________

Sulphate (SOi).. ............

Chloride (Cl). .........."....

Flucride (F) ....... _ .......

Nitrate (NO.). ..............

Total hardness as CaCO»....

Depth (feet)... ....... ...... .

Date drilled.. ...............

WellS

Raw water

Parts 

per 

million

22 

.07

44 

21 }>'

158 

70 

12

276 

196

Equivalents 

per 

million

2.916 

1.727

.478

2.590

1.457 

.338

Finished water

Parts 

per

million

11 

.07

16 

6.6

28

39

78 

10

173 

67

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.799 

.543

1.218

.639 

1.624 

.282

560 

16 

1924 

14

Well 4

Eaw water

Parts 

per 

million

24 

.64

45 

22 

( 7.9 

i 1.0 

153 

77 

7.8 .3 ' 

.10 

265

203 

71

Equivaalents 

per 

million

2.246 

1.809 

.344 

.026 

2.508 

1.603 

.220 

.016 

.002

Finished water

Parts 

per 

million

15 

.02

13 

6.4 

29 

1.1 139 

77 

8.4 

.2 

.10 

170

59

71

Equivalents 

per 

million

0.64& 

.526 

1.261 

.208 

.639 

1.603 

.237 

.010 

.002

305 

16 

1936 

85

1 Includes equivalent of 6.9 parts of carbonate (COs).

TIFTON 

[Population, 5,228] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Two wells, 511 and 501 feet deep. The yield of the wells is reported 

to be 1,500 and 1,000 gallons per minute. 

Treatment: Aeration, chlorination. 

Storage: Reservoir, 200,000 gallons; elevated tank, 100,000 gallons.

Both wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from the wells to the reservoir and from the reservoir to the distribution system 

and the elevated tank.
78 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analyses 

[Collected June 5, 1940. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble. Well numbers assigned by Geological Survey]

Silica (SiO2) - - . 

Iron (Fe)~ --- ---- --.-.---_- .._...

Calcium (Ca)__.__ -.-.__-.._.______.________..

Sodium (Na)-_-____. ___________________________

Bicarbonate (HCO3) ---------------------------

Sulphate (SO4) ... ..

Chloride (Cl)................ ..................

Fluoride(F). ..................................

Nitrate (NO,).... ..............................

Date drilled,.-. ..................... ..........

Percent of supply. . ___ ...... __ ..........

Well 1

Parts per 

million

19 

.06 

.06 

45 

7.8 

3.1 

.8 

174 

1.0 

2.6 

.1 

.05 

158

144

Equivalents 

per million

0.002 

2.246 

.641 

.135 

.020 

2.852 

.021 

.073 

.005 

.001

511 

15 

1939 

60

Well 2

Parts per 

million

19 

.09 

.02 

44 

8.0 

3.5 

.7 

173 

1.1 

2.6 

.0 

.05 

159

143

Equivalents 

per million

0.001 

2.196 

.658 

.152 

.018 

2.836 

.023 

.073 

.000 

.001

501 

12 

1940 

40

TOCCOA

[Population, 5,494]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Little Toccoa Creek impounded in the Toccoa Waterworks Lake 

(capacity about 31,000,000 gallons).

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, activated carbon, rapid sand 

filtration, chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,500,000 gallons per day.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 300,000 gallons; elevated tank, 

200,000 gallons.

The filtration plant.and intake are located at the Toccoa Waterworks Lake, 

1% miles northwest of the center of Toccoa. The water flows from the lake 

through the filtration plant to the clear-water well and from the clear-water well 

to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 7,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOi). ..................................

Calcium (Ca), ____________ _ .. .....

Sodium (Na) ........ .....................

Potassium (K). _______ ___ _ _ _ .............

Bicarbonate (HCOi). .-----.-.---..............

Sulphate (SO.)- ........ ............... ...._

Chloride (Cl). ........ .........................

Fluoride(F) ...................................

Nitrate (NO»)-._. .............................

Color....... ...-. .-.-....................

Raw water

Parts per 

million

7.9 

.03 

1.9 

.8 

1.6 

1.4 

14 

1.0 

1.1 

.0 

.0 

23

8.0 

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.095 

.066 

.070 

.036 

.230 

.021 

.031 

.000 

.000

Finished water

Parts per 

million

8.6 

.01 

5.1 

.7 

1.7 

1.6 

18 

5.4 

1.2 

.0 

.0 

34

16

6

Equivalents 

per million

0.255 

.058 

.074 

.041 

.295 

.112 

. .034 

.000 

.000
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 

Regular determinations at the filtration plant

79

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

12 

15

Max.

15 

16

Min.

9 

10

PH

Av. 

6.9

Max.

7.0

Min. 

6.0

Turbidity

Av.

35

Max.

200

Min.

S

TRION

[Population, 3,800] 

Owner: The Trion Co. 

Source: Developed spring. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: Reservoir, 635,000 gallons.

The developed spring is located at the Trion pumping station, on the west bank 

of the Chattooga River about 1 mile north of Trion. The water is pumped from 

the spring to the reservoir and flows from the reservoir to the distribution system.

Analysis 

[Collected Apr. 20, 1938. Analyzed by William L. Lamar] '

Silica (SiOj).. ............

Iron (Fe)-.... ...........

Calcium (Ca) -. !._..__._

Magnesium (Mg)

Sodium (Na)._. ------..-.

Potassium (K) _ .. __ _

Bicarbonate (HCOj)..... 

Sulphate (SO*)....... ..

Developed spring

Parts 

per 

million

7.0 

.01 

23 

11 

1.1 

.6 

118 

1.4

Equivalents per 

million

1.148 

.90S 

.048 

.015 

1.934 

.029

Chloride (Cl) .............

Fluoride (F) . . .

Nitrate (N0»).._... .......

Total dissolved solids __ 

Total hardness as CaCOj

Developed spring

Parts 

per 

million

1.5 

.0 

2.4 

103

103 

61

Equivalents per . million

.042 

.000 

.039

VALDOSTA

[Population, 15,595]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well (No. 3) 409 feet deep; emergency supply from a well (No. 2) 500 

feet deep. The yield of well 3 is reported to be 1,000 to 1,200 gallons per minute. 

Treatment: Aeration, Chlorination. 

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 250,000 and 1,000,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from the wells to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system. 

Well 2 is connected with the system and is pumped for about five days during the 

year to keep it in service for emergency use.

Well 3, now reported to be 409 feet deep, was reported in 1932 and in Geological 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 658 as 408 feet deep.
80 QUALITY OF WATE« SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

Analysis 

[Collected Sept. 30, 1941. Analyzed by Charles G. Seegmiller]

Sodium (Na)- ... ....

Bicarbonate (HdO3)-...- 

Sulphate(SO4)-...- -.-

Chloride(Cl). -. 

Nitrate (NO3)- 

Total dissolved solids ... 

Well 3

Parts per 

million

15 

.01 

32 

4.4 

2.3 

1.0 

78 

30 

3.8 

.2 

.30 

136

Equivalents per 

million

1.597 

.302 

.100 

.026 

3.278 

. 625 

.107 

.010 

.005

Total hardness as CaCOsDepth (feet) .-.

Well 3

Parts per 

million

98 

72

Equivalents per 

million

409 

15 

1923 

100

"VTDAIjIA

[Population, 4,109] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Well 1,100 feet deep (yield reported to be 650 gallons per minute); 

emergency supply from a well 500 feet deep. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 150,000 and 250,000 gallons; elevated tank, 65,000 gallons.

The wells are located at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped 

from the wells to the reservoirs and from the reservoirs to the distribution system 

and the elevated tank.

Analysis of water from well 1,100 feet deep 

[Collected Jan. 28,1938. Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble]

Silica (SiOj) ...........

Sodium (Na)~. -...

Potassium (K)_. .........

Chloride (Cl) .............

Fluoride(F). ...........

Nitrate (NOi) 

Parts per 

million

45

.04

3115 9

9.4

2.8 

13S

4.5

4.6

.0

.0

Equivalents 

per million

1 547

AQZ

.409

094

.130

.000

000

Parts per 

million

169

102

74

1,1

1£

]

Equivalents 

pas million

00

10

30

00

WASHINGTON

[Population, 3,537] 

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Beaverdam Creek (tributary to Little River). 

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, chlorination, rapid sand filtration. 

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day. 

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, 1,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 47,000 gallons; standpipe, 282,000 

gallons; 2 elevated tanks, 30,000 gallons each, for emergency use.

The filtration plant and intake are located on the creek 3% miles southwest of 

the center of Washington. The water is pumped from the creek to the raw-water 

reservoir and from this reservoir to the filtration plant; flows through the filtration
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES 81

plant to the clear-water well; and is pumped from the clear-water well to the 

distribution system and the standpipe. The elevated tanks are kept full for 

emergency use.

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 22,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica (SiOj).___. -__ _ _ _ .... .

Iron (Fe)-~ . .----- --.-

Bicarbonate (HCOj). ..........................

Sulphate (SOO- - - - -- 

Chloride (CI)... ........... ....-........ ...

Fluoride (F).. ........ _ .....................

Nitrate (NOj) ..---.. __ .......... _ ....

H

Eaw water

Parts per 

million

32 

.22 

7.8 

2.9

} 8.8

54 

1.3 

3.4 

.0 

.06 

86

31

12

Equivalents 

per million

6.389 

.238

.383

.885 

.027 

.OP6 

.000 

.001

Finished water

Parts per 

million

27 

.01 

8.1 

3.2

8.4

32 

19 

4.0 

.0 

.0 

90

33 

3

Equivalents 

per million

0.404 

.263

.365

.524 

.396 

.113 

.000 

.000

WAYCROSS

[Population, 16,763]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: 2 wells, 658 and 686 feet deep. The yield of the wells is reported to be 

1,210 and 2,080 gallons per minute. 

Treatment: Chlorination. 

Storage: 2 reservoirs, 39,700 and 48,800 gallons; standpipe, 287,000 gallons.

The 658-foot well is located in Legion Park; the 686-foot well is at the waterworks pumping plant. The water is pumped from the wells to the reservoirs and 

from the reservoirs to the distribution system and the standpipe.

Analyses 

[Analyzed by Wesley M. Noble and Charles Q. Seegmiller. Well numbers assigned by Geological Survey]

Silica(SiOj).... - ..- . --.. .-.

Bicarbonate (HCO3)--.----- ------------------

Sulphate (SO4) ------------------------------

Chloride (Cl)...... - .. -_._. . .........

Fluoride (F)._._. .... _-_._.._-.___.____.___

Nitrate(NOs) .

Depth (feet)-..... .......... . ............ ...

Date drilled ... _ .... __ ... .... . ------

Welll

Parts per 

million

46 

.21 

34 

14 

16 

2.4 

159 

29 

14 

.4 

.15 

224

142 

74 

May 28, 1941

Equivalents 

per million

1.697 

1.151 

.696 

.061 

2.606 

.604 

.395 

.021 

.002

658 

12 

1893 

80

Well 2

Parts per 

million

42 

.14 

40 

18 

19 

1.9 

162 

50 

20 

.2 

.0 

268

174 

76 

Jan. 31, 1938

Equivalents 

per million

1.996 

1.480 

.826 

.049 

2.655 

1.041 

.564 

.010 

.000

686 

12

20
82 QUALITY OF WATER SUPPLIES IN GEORGIA

WATTNESBORO

[Population, 3,793]

Ownership: Municipal.

Source: Brier Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum, activated carbon, rapid sand filtration,, 

chlorination, final adjustment of pH by addition of lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 1,000,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: None.

Finished-water storage: Clear-water well, 200,000 gallons: elevated tank, 

1(10,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located.on the old Augusta road about 2 miles east of 

Waynesboro. The intake is about half a mile east of the filtration plant. The 

water is pumped from the creek to the filtration plant, flows through the filtration 

plant to the clear-water well, and is pumped from the clear-water well to the distribution system and the elevated tank.

Analyses

[Collected Jan. 17,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. Ness]

Silica(SiOi). 

Bicarbonate (HCO3) . .... ..............

SulphatefSOO 

Chloride (Cl) - .

Fluoride(F).. .................................

Nitrate(NOs) 

Color-.... . - .

Raw water

Parts per 

million

9.3 

.12 

4.8 

.9 

2.6 

.8 

20 

1.7 

3.2 

.1 

.26 

37

16 

15

Equivalents 

per million

0.240 

.-§74 

.113 

.020 

.328 

.035 

.090 

.005 

.004

Finished water

Parts per 

million

9.4 

.04 

11 

.; 1.0 

' 2.4 

.8 

30 

7.9 

3.5 

.0 

.08 

53

32

Equivalents 

per million

0. 549 

.082. 

.104 

.020 

.492 

.164 

.099 

.000 

.001

WINDER

[Population, 3,974]

Ownership: Municipal; supplies also about 150 people outside the city limits* 

Total population supplied, about 4,100.

Source: Cedar Creek.

Treatment: Coagulation with alum and lime, activated carbon, rapid sand 

filtration, ammonium sulphate, chlorine, final adjustment of pH by addition of 

lime.

Rated capacity of filtration plant: 500,000 gallons per day.

Raw-water storage: Reservoir, capacity estimated at 1,000,000 gallons.

Finished-water storage: 2 clear-water wells, 70,000 and 130,000 gallons; standpipe, 160,000 gallons.

The filtration plant is located in Winder. The intake is about 2 miles north of 

the center of Winder. The water is pumped from the creek to the raw-water 

reservoir, flows from this reservoir through the filtration plant to the clear-water 

wells, and is pumped from the clear-water wells to the distribution system and the 

standpipe.
DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES

Analyses 

[Collected Sept. 21,1938. Analyzed by Arthur T. NessJ

Silica (SiOj)- ... ..-.---..-..._......-.....

Iron (Fo).......... ............... ............. .

Sulpha to (SO4)-. --------- ...................

Chloride (Cl) ....................... ...........

Color................ ... ...... ..............

Raw water

Parts per 

million

13 

.02 

1.5 

.6

| 3.9

12 

1.6 

1.9 

.0 

.74 

30

6.2 

4

Equivalents 

per million

0.075 

.049

.170

.197 

.033 

.054 

.000 

.012

Finished water

Parts per 

million

9.9 

.01 

14 

.6

4.9

21 

26 

2.1 

.0 

.82 

72

37 

1

Equivalents 

per million

0.699 

.049

.213

.344 

.Ml 

.059 

.000 

.013

Regular determinations at the filtration -plant

Year 1937

Alkalinity

Av.

13

24

Max.

19 

31

Min.

10 

10

PH

Av.

7.2 

8.1

Max.

9.2

Min.

6.8

Turbidity

Av.

45

Max.

150

Min.

20

Temperature °F.

Av.

65

Max.

8H

Min.

41

o