Savannah, Georgia drinks from underground. The city’s water supply comes almost entirely from the Upper Floridan Aquifer, a massive limestone aquifer system that stretches across the Southeast from South Carolina to Alabama. It’s one of the most productive aquifers in the world, and Savannah has been tapping it since the 1880s.
The water quality from the Floridan is naturally excellent — filtered through hundreds of feet of limestone, it emerges clean, mineral-rich, and requiring minimal treatment. But Savannah has been drinking from this well for nearly 150 years, and the aquifer is showing the strain.
Saltwater Intrusion: The Big Threat
The fundamental challenge to Savannah’s water supply is saltwater intrusion. Heavy pumping from the Floridan Aquifer has lowered the water table enough to allow salty water from the Atlantic to migrate inland through the aquifer’s limestone pathways.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division identified the Savannah area as having a “red zone” for saltwater intrusion decades ago. In response, the state imposed pumping restrictions and capped withdrawals in the coastal zone. Industries that once used Floridan Aquifer water for cooling and process water have been required to switch to surface water from the Savannah River.
These measures have slowed the intrusion, but the chloride front continues to advance in some areas. Monitoring wells track the movement, and the situation requires ongoing management. If pumping restrictions were relaxed, the intrusion would accelerate.
For city water customers, the current supply wells are positioned inland of the worst saltwater contamination. But the long-term viability of the aquifer as Savannah’s sole source depends on continued pumping restraint — a challenge as the city grows.
Industrial Port Contamination
The Port of Savannah is the fourth-busiest container port in the United States, and the industrial infrastructure surrounding it has left contamination in soil and groundwater throughout the area. The Savannah River itself receives industrial discharges from upstream — including the Savannah River Site, a former nuclear weapons production facility in South Carolina.
Several Superfund and state cleanup sites are located in the Savannah area. The former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation site and other industrial properties have documented groundwater contamination. Because Savannah relies on the deep Floridan Aquifer rather than shallow groundwater, there’s natural protection from surface and near-surface contamination. But the principle isn’t absolute — contamination can migrate vertically given enough time and the right geological conditions.
PFAS Near Military Installations
Hunter Army Airfield, located in the heart of Savannah, is an active military installation where AFFF firefighting foam was used for decades. PFAS contamination has been detected in groundwater near the airfield.
The Army has been conducting investigation and has provided bottled water and connections to municipal supply for some affected residents near the base. Georgia has not yet established state-specific PFAS drinking water standards, so the federal EPA MCLs (4 ppt for PFOA, 4 ppt for PFOS) are the governing limits.
The city’s deep aquifer wells provide some protection, but the PFAS investigation is ongoing and the full extent of contamination is still being defined.
Climate and Flooding
Savannah is a low-lying coastal city increasingly affected by flooding — both tidal and rainfall-driven. Sea level rise is raising the baseline water table in the city, which can affect underground infrastructure and potentially compromise water and sewer mains.
The city has experienced increases in sunny-day flooding and more severe hurricane impacts. While drinking water treatment isn’t directly threatened (the deep aquifer supply is below flood level), the distribution infrastructure is vulnerable to flood damage.
Water Quality and Treatment
Savannah’s Floridan Aquifer water is naturally hard and mineral-rich. The city treats with chloramine for disinfection and adds fluoride. Because the source is groundwater, there’s no need for the extensive filtration required by surface water systems.
The water’s hardness (typically 150-250 mg/L as calcium carbonate) means residents notice mineral buildup. Water softeners are common in Savannah homes. The naturally high pH of the limestone water helps with corrosion control, reducing lead leaching from pipes and fixtures.
What Residents Can Do
- Know your source. Savannah’s aquifer water is high quality but hard. A softener addresses the hardness; a carbon filter handles chloramine and taste.
- Private well owners in Chatham County: Test for chloride (saltwater intrusion indicator), bacteria, and PFAS if near Hunter Army Airfield.
- Support conservation. Aquifer sustainability depends on limiting withdrawals. Every gallon saved helps keep saltwater at bay.
- Report changes. If your tap water suddenly tastes different (salty, metallic), report it. Changes can indicate system issues.
If you’re concerned about your water quality, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend the right approach.
See also our coverage of Charleston water quality and Baton Rouge water quality.
Sources: City of Savannah Water Resources, Georgia EPD, EPA SDWIS, USGS, Chatham County Health Department