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Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM • Updated September 2026
Grade A — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM has a clean recent record: no health-based violations in the last five years and no lead, PFAS or historical monitoring result that costs it more than a few points.
Yes — by EPA's records, Birmingham's tap water earns a A: no health-based violations in five years, lead at 1.8 ppb (90th percentile) and only low-level PFAS (6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA). Lead from home plumbing is the main remaining risk.
By EPA's records, yes. CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM earns a A: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 1.8 ppb, and PFAS (6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA) below federal limits. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 1.76 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2024-08-21 to 2025-05-19) detected 6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM has 4 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 3 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 585,000 people (EPA PWSID AL0000738).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles PFAS and improves taste.
Want to know what's really in your Birmingham tap water?
6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA were detected in Birmingham's water at low levels in 2023–2025 EPA monitoring.
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CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. The 3 violations on file in that window are monitoring or reporting paperwork issues, not measured contaminant exceedances.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)TTHM | Monitoring & reporting | 2026-01-01 → 2026-03-31 | Archived |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring & reporting | 2026-01-01 → 2026-03-31 | Archived |
| Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RLead and Copper Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2023-10-11 | Unaddressed |
| Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RLead and Copper Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2016-10-25 | Resolvedreturned 2019-10-24 |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM sampled had lead at or below 1.76 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 1.76 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-06-30 | 1.46 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-07-01 → 2019-12-31 | 1.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 1.3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 2.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1999-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2001-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 3 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1997-01-01 → 1997-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1997-07-01 → 1997-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-08-21 to 2025-05-19 · 464 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA detected at low levels; no compound was at or above its federal MCL. Detections below the MCL are common in surface-water systems and are reported here exactly as EPA published them.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 16 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 16 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 16 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 16 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 16 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 4 / 16 | 7.9 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| 6:2 FTS | 1 / 16 | 5.8 | 5 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFBA | 1 / 16 | 6.1 | 5 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFHxA | 2 / 16 | 8.5 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
| PFPeA | 3 / 16 | 11.3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
What PFAS are and how to remove them → · Best filters for PFAS →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic acids (HAA5) are flagged below; the status column explains why. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 400 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 10 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N) | 4028 detects | 0.295 mg/L | 0.79 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 4029 detects | 0.486 mg/L | 0.918 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 400 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 1613 detects | 0.181 pCi/L | 0.3 pCi/L | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 200 detects | 0 pCi/L | ND | 15 pCi/LMCL | Not detected |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 857 | 33.921 µg/L | 110 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 18 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 857 | 26.392 µg/L | 84.7 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | 6 single samples over MCL; average within limit |
| Lead (tap samples) | 15014 detects | 0.231 µg/L | 8.423 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 150127 detects | 36.688 µg/L | 231.781 µg/L | 1300 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
Averages count non-detects as zero. TTHM and HAA5 limits are locational running annual averages, so a single high sample is not a violation — we grade those on the average only. Lead and copper rows are individual tap samples and are shown for context; compliance (and our score) uses the 90th-percentile result above. LRAA = locational running annual average; ND = not detected.
Source: SYR4 Six-Year Review compliance monitoring data 2012–2019 (released 2024-03)
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM · 232,850 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM reports 12,368 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (5.3% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 36,839 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID AL0000738 · See all Alabama lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Birmingham homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Birmingham faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Birmingham households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Birmingham ranks #8 of 22 graded Alabama cities.
By EPA's records, yes. CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM earns a A: no health-based violations in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 1.8 ppb, and PFAS (6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA) below federal limits. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 1.76 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes. EPA's UCMR5 sampling (2024-08-21 to 2025-05-19) detected 6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA, all below federal MCLs. Reverse osmosis and certified activated-carbon filters reduce PFAS.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM has 4 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 3 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 585,000 people (EPA PWSID AL0000738).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles PFAS and improves taste.
6:2 FTS, PFBA, PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA were detected in Birmingham's water at low levels in 2023–2025 EPA monitoring.
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