Citronelle, AL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Citronelle: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Water systems in Citronelle, AL serve households with few reported safety events.
How Citronelle Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Citronelle Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 112 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0033 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 50% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.59 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Citronelle
Residential water service in Citronelle, AL is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 3 systems on file with federal regulators.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Citronelle, Alabama (population ~6,892), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 44,187 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Citronelle: B (83/100)
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
Citronelle water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0033 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 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 10 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 10 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 6 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 6 | 1 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36522 | B | 112 | 1 | South Alabama Utilities Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Citronelle
- 36522 [B] - 112 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.
CDC Health Data for Citronelle
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 Citronelle
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Citronelle's Housing Stock?
With 50% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Citronelle, where the median build year is 1984, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Citronelle 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.
Citronelle: Remediation Cost in Perspective
At current valuations, Citronelle falls in the moderate remediation-share tier - a level where treating this as a budgeted line item rather than an ad-hoc expense is the practical approach.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Citronelle. The estimated $1,100–$2,600 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 8% below the Alabama average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Citronelle
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 50% of Citronelle stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Citronelle
Historical NFIP data for Citronelle contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $26,192. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 <strong>$1,700</strong> 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Citronelle, AL