Brookwood, AL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 75/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Brookwood: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Water systems serving Brookwood hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in AL with few health-based violations on file.
How Brookwood Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Brookwood Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 57 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0028 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 36% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.26 - above typical levels.
Brookwood's Water Providers
Multiple utilities divide Brookwood, AL's water service - 3 leading providers among 3 on the federal register.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Brookwood, Alabama (population ~4,047), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 28,626 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Brookwood: B (75/100)
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
Brookwood water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0028 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2020 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35444 | B | 57 | 2 | Carrolls Creek, Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Brookwood
- 35444 [B] - 57 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Brookwood Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Brookwood's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Brookwood Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When trying to understand water quality at the household level, the year a home was built often matters more than any city-wide water report. That's because the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in plumbing, and the earlier phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, created sharp discontinuities in residential plumbing risk by construction era. Brookwood's median build year of 1995 puts the city in the transition zone: a substantial share of the housing stock postdates the solder ban, but a comparable fraction predates it - with the oldest homes carrying both the solder risk and the pipe risk simultaneously. Whether any individual household sits on the safer or riskier side of these thresholds is the key question, and it's one the city-wide median alone can't answer.
Most homes in Brookwood were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Brookwood
At current valuations, Brookwood sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Brookwood are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 10% above the Alabama average.
Brookwood: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 36% of Brookwood homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Brookwood, AL