Bessemer, AL: 8 Health Violations — 74/100 (2026)
4 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Bessemer, AL: reliable drinking water, above-average safety record, few violations.
How Bessemer Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Bessemer Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 44 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 64% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,050 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.86 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Bessemer
Federal records list 8 water systems tied to Bessemer, AL. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Bessemer, Alabama (population ~74,518), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 741,116 people region-wide.
4 of 4 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bessemer: B (74/100)
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
Bessemer water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 4 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 15 | 4 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 4 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 4 |
| Contaminant 2065 | Other | 5 | 4 |
| Contaminant 2105 | Other | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35020 | C | 11 | 2 | Bessemer Water Service |
| 35021 | B | 11 | 2 | Bessemer Water Service |
| 35022 | B | 11 | 2 | Bessemer Water Service |
| 35023 | B | 11 | 2 | Bessemer Water Service |
All ZIP Codes in Bessemer
- 35020 [C] — 11 violations ⚠
- 35021 [B] — 11 violations ⚠
- 35022 [B] — 11 violations ⚠
- 35023 [B] — 11 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.
CDC Health Data for Bessemer
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
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. 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Bessemer — it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1972 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Bessemer 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.
Bessemer: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-value ratio in Bessemer is in the moderate range — neither dismissible nor alarming, but above the threshold where remediation can be treated as incidental. Most homeowners here are weighing a real equity commitment, and the moderate classification reflects that accurately.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Bessemer. The estimated $1,050–$3,350 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 7% below the Alabama average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Bessemer
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.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet — and where 64% of Bessemer homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Bessemer
Bessemer's flood profile — 538 NFIP claims over the program's multi-decade period and 75% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — reflects a community where flooding has shaped the local risk landscape in sustained ways. That sustained exposure has specific consequences for water quality that don't apply to lower-exposure areas. Treatment facilities handling intake from flood-saturated watersheds face contaminant loads that can exceed normal filtration capacity. Private wells in FEMA-designated zones face surface infiltration risk during every significant event. Distribution systems in areas that flood repeatedly accumulate backflow stress over time. None of these represent constant threats to water quality, but they are activated by the kinds of events that the NFIP record shows have occurred here, repeatedly, over many years.
Bessemer has a significant flood history with 538 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $11,450 per claim. With 75% 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>$2,050</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 Bessemer, AL