A meeting was held Monday evening in Rome to discuss PFAS contamination in water systems across Northwest Georgia. The Ben Finley Law Firm hosted the public forum at The Forum in Rome, with consumer advocate Erin Brockovich in attendance.

As PFAS continues to make headlines, local officials and residents say there is still confusion about which water systems in Chattooga County are affected. While PFAS has been identified as an issue in the City of Summerville’s water system, that does not mean every public water provider in Chattooga County is dealing with the same problem.

Chattooga County residents are served by six different water systems. Those systems are:

Chattooga County Water District
City of Summerville Water
Town of Trion Water
City of Menlo Water
Town of Lyerly Water
Fort Payne Water

The distinction is important because each system operates separately and serves different customers in different parts of the county. With PFAS remaining a major topic of concern, understanding which provider serves your home or business is a key part of staying informed.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” have drawn increased attention because of their persistence in the environment and concerns about possible health effects. In Chattooga County, the issue that has received the most attention involves the City of Summerville water system, though discussion at the Rome forum highlighted broader concerns throughout the region.

Residents are encouraged to know which utility serves their area and to follow updates from their specific water provider.