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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 MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF • Updated September 2026
Grade B — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF is in good standing with EPA, with only minor deductions for monitoring paperwork, low-level PFAS or historical readings near a limit.
Yes — by EPA's records, Mobile's tap water earns a B: few recent violations, lead at 1.5 ppb (90th percentile) and no PFAS detected. Lead from home plumbing is the main remaining risk.
By EPA's records, yes. MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF earns a B: 1 health-based violation in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 1.5 ppb, and no PFAS detected in UCMR5 sampling. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 1.5 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.
No. None of the 232 UCMR5 PFAS results for MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF (2024-11-04 to 2025-08-18) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF has 25 violations on file since 2016: 1 health-based in the last five years and 3 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 279,000 people (EPA PWSID AL0001005).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
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MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF has 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years.
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MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-09-07
EPA records 1 health-based violation for this system in the last five years, all of which are marked resolved or archived. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2023-07-01 → 2023-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2023-09-30 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)TTHM | Monitoring & reporting | 2025-04-01 → 2025-06-30 | Archived |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring & reporting | 2025-04-01 → 2025-06-30 | Archived |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)CARBON, TOTAL | Monitoring & reporting | 2023-07-01 → 2023-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2023-09-30 |
| Monitoring, Regular1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularXylenes, Total | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularDICHLOROMETHANE | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regularo-Dichlorobenzene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regularp-Dichlorobenzene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularVinyl chloride | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regular1,1-Dichloroethylene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regulartrans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regular1,2-Dichloroethane | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularCarbon tetrachloride | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularTetrachloroethylene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularCHLOROBENZENE | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularBenzene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularStyrene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regularcis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regular1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularEthylbenzene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularToluene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regular1,2-Dichloropropane | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, Regular1,1,2-Trichloroethane | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
| Monitoring, RegularTrichloroethylene | Monitoring & reporting | 2020-01-01 → 2020-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-03-31 |
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 MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF sampled had lead at or below 1.5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-12-31 | 1.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2024-01-01 → 2024-12-31 | 6.5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 3.8 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-12-31 | 1.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-01-01 → 2021-12-31 | 0.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-12-31 | 1.05 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2019-01-01 → 2019-12-31 | 0 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2018-01-01 → 2018-12-31 | 1.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2017-01-01 → 2017-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2016-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2015-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2014-01-01 → 2014-12-31 | 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, 2024-11-04 to 2025-08-18 · 232 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 232 UCMR5 PFAS results for MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 8 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 8 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 8 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 8 | < 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 →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance samples for MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF · finished water only · dated data, released 2024
These are the regulated-contaminant samples MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF reported to its state between 2012 and 2019 — the most recent nationwide sample-level dataset EPA has published. Every scored contaminant stayed within its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and averaged below 80% of the limit. Treat this as history, not today's tap water.
| Contaminant | Samples | Average | Max | EPA limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 181 detects | 0.035 µg/L | 0.63 µg/L | 10 µg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Nitrate (as N) | 1812 detects | 0.111 mg/L | 0.24 mg/L | 10 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Fluoride | 1715 detects | 0.668 mg/L | 1.2 mg/L | 4 mg/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Chromium (total) | 180 detects | 0 µg/L | ND | 100 µg/LMCL | Not detected |
| Radium-226/228 | 12 | 0.733 pCi/L | 1.7 pCi/L | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Gross alpha | 1110 detects | 1.142 pCi/L | 4.2 pCi/L | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within MCL |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 681680 detects | 34.644 µg/L | 79.8 µg/L | 80 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | 681593 detects | 20.164 µg/L | 58 µg/L | 60 µg/LMCL (LRAA) | Within MCL |
| Lead (tap samples) | 12116 detects | 0.202 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L | 15 µg/Laction level (90th percentile) | Reported, not scored (compliance is on the 90th percentile) |
| Copper (tap samples) | 121102 detects | 14.705 µg/L | 69 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)
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF · 94,604 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF reports no lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement service lines and has classified 100% of its 94,604 lines as non-lead. Lead can still come from pre-1986 plumbing and fixtures inside a home.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID AL0001005 · 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 Mobile 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 Mobile 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 Mobile 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.
Mobile ranks #10 of 22 graded Alabama cities.
By EPA's records, yes. MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF earns a B: 1 health-based violation in the last five years, a lead 90th-percentile result of 1.5 ppb, and no PFAS detected in UCMR5 sampling. Lead from your own plumbing is the main risk city data cannot see.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31) was 1.5 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.
No. None of the 232 UCMR5 PFAS results for MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF (2024-11-04 to 2025-08-18) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF has 25 violations on file since 2016: 1 health-based in the last five years and 3 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 279,000 people (EPA PWSID AL0001005).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
MOBILE, BD. OF W&S COMM. OF THE CITY OF has 1 health-based EPA violation in the last five years.
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