Bessemer, AL: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 54/100
4 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Bessemer: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
A low grade for Bessemer, AL is a reason to open the report for your ZIP code and see which factors pull the score down.
How Bessemer Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Bessemer Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0068 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 64% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,940 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.86.
Water Systems Serving Bessemer
When a city is linked to 6 water systems, as Bessemer, AL is in federal records, water in one neighborhood may come from a different system than in another. The 3 systems with the largest reported populations are shown below, and their compliance records are kept separately, so a violation logged for one does not describe the others.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Bessemer, Alabama (population ~74,518), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 740,325 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 4 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bessemer: D (54/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Bessemer water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0068 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
4 of 4 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 9 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 9 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35023 | D | 12 | 1 | Bessemer Water Service |
| 35020 | C | 7 | 0 | Bessemer Water Service |
| 35022 | C | 7 | 0 | Bessemer Water Service |
All ZIP Codes in Bessemer
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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Bessemer
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Bessemer
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Bessemer's Housing Stock?
With 64% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Lead can reach tap water from service lines, solder and brass fittings inside a building, which is why housing age draws attention in Bessemer, where the median build year is 1972.
Over half of homes in Bessemer were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Bessemer: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Bessemer, estimated remediation lands between the 1% and 2% cutoffs as a share of what the median home is worth.
Estimated remediation costs in Bessemer can be compared with local home values. The estimated $1,243–$2,787 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 7% below the Alabama average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Bessemer
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
1 ZIP code (25% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Bessemer
Historical NFIP data for Bessemer contains 539 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,442. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
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. The $1,940 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Bessemer
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), listed in the water-quality records for Bessemer: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 64% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bessemer, AL