Augusta, GA
Augusta drinking water meets safety standards, city officials say
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders want customers to know that the drinking water here is safe.
They issued a statement this week amid a nationwide focus on the potential dangers of long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS.
“Augusta Utilities is aware of recent media coverage regarding PFAS compounds, sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals,’” the city said. “Augusta’s drinking water meets all current state and federal health standards and remains safe to drink.”
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division, which oversees drinking water enforcement under the Safe Drinking Water Act, has not issued any public health advisory for Augusta’s water system, city officials said.
City water is routinely tested for more than 182 regulated contaminants, officials said, and all levels remain within established health-based guidelines.
Water quality testing is conducted regularly and reported to both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
PFAS compounds − formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances − are being monitored nationwide under new federal standards established in 2024.
The chemicals, used in consumer products for decades, are hard to break down, so they are called “forever chemicals.”
Augusta Utilities continues to monitor these compounds as required and is evaluating treatment options to meet future regulatory timelines, city officials said.
You can review Augusta’s annual water quality report at: https://www.augustaga.gov/751/Water-Quality-Reports.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The South Augusta YMCA will not renew its lease at the Tobacco Road location, the Y confirmed.
The shopping center is being sold, and the current lease ends in October.
The Y has not announced a final day at the current location. Officials said they plan to announce that date and next steps for South Augusta later this month.
The YMCA said it still plans to serve South Augusta after the lease expires.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A man who was previously wanted for questioning in an Augusta deadly shooting has now been charged with murder in the case, according to authorities.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says Kemfton Quewanaki Kenon, 27, was arrested on Friday in connection to the shooting death of Khyla Rodriguez, of Augusta.
Kenon is booked into the Charles B. Webster Detention Center and charged with murder and possession of a firearm during a crime, according to jail bookings.
Rodriguez, 25, was found dead after deputies received a call about a shooting on May 15 at 1:11 a.m. on Cameron Drive.
The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 2:27 a.m.
Kenon was previously wanted for questioning in the case and was located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He was interviewed and arrested on an unrelated warrant.
Deputies were also interviewed two other subjects in the case. They were not arrested in the case.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – People who live in South Augusta are raising concerns about the future of the Family Y on Tobacco Road.
Officials say the facility has been operating at a loss for years, and have had a low number of memberships. The location also has a new owner. The cost of the lease is too high and the facility is also in need of renovations, which are said to be costly.
“The reality is we couldn’t afford the current lease that we were in,” said Catie McCauley, president and CEO of Family Y of Greater Augusta. “Over the last 10 years we’ve been subsidizing this lot. So we got to look at a model that we can sustain for the next several generations not just the next couple years.”
The location is set to close in October, but officials say they are working with community members and contractors for a new building that they can move into and are committed to staying in South Augusta.
Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps
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