Bayou La Batre, AL: 4 Violations — 75/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-04
Based on current monitoring, Bayou La Batre holds an above-average drinking water safety record for AL — violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
How Bayou La Batre Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
What You Should Know About Bayou La Batre Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 62% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.59 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Bayou La Batre
Most residential addresses in Bayou La Batre, AL are served by a single water utility — the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Bayou La Batre, Alabama (population ~1,462), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 8,100 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bayou La Batre: B (75/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Bayou La Batre water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0060 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Chlorodibromomethane | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36509 | B | 4 | 0 | Bayou La Batre Utilities |
All ZIP Codes in Bayou La Batre
- 36509 [B] — 4 violations
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Bayou La Batre
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Bayou La Batre Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Bayou La Batre
With 62% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Bayou La Batre's housing stock is predominantly older, with a median build year of 1976 that reflects decades of construction before federal plumbing standards were tightened. The 1986 ban on lead solder and the pre-1970 era of lead service lines are both relevant benchmarks here — a significant share of the residential inventory predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating an elevated baseline for plumbing-related lead risk that aggregate water quality data may not fully reflect at the household level.
Over half of homes in Bayou La Batre were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Bayou La Batre Homeowners
What should Bayou La Batre property owners understand before approaching remediation at this cost-to-value tier? That the equity share is elevated enough to treat this as a formal financial decision — one where knowing the full scope and prioritizing documented issues by urgency shape the outcome more than any single variable, given where this market falls on the remediation-share scale.
At 2.1% of home value, remediation costs in Bayou La Batre represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,200–$2,500. Home values here are 49% below the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Bayou La Batre
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 62% of the Bayou La Batre inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Bayou La Batre
Across the multi-decade NFIP program, Bayou La Batre has logged 647 filed flood claims — a tally that corresponds with 100% of local ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood zone designations. For water quality, the implications extend beyond property damage: when flooding reaches the magnitude this area's record implies, water supply systems face compounding stress. Treatment plants handling contaminated floodwater intake face sharply elevated contaminant loads. Private wells in low-lying FEMA zones are vulnerable to surface infiltration during each major event. Distribution networks can experience pressure-inversion backflow, drawing untreated water back into the supply. These are not remote possibilities at this exposure level.
Bayou La Batre has a significant flood history with 647 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $49,817 per claim. With 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bayou La Batre, AL