Columbiana, AL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 63/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Columbiana: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Columbiana lands in the middle of the grade scale in AL; EPA records can differ from one service area to the next.
How Columbiana Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Columbiana Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 35 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.01 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 47% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $900 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.18.
Columbiana's Water Providers
The 3 largest of 5 systems connected with Columbiana, AL are listed below.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Columbiana, Alabama (population ~10,101), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 159,675 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 Columbiana: C (63/100)
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
Columbiana water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0100 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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 | 12 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35051 | C | 35 | 1 | Columbiana, the Ww Board of the Town of |
All ZIP Codes in Columbiana
- 35051 [C] - 35 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.
Columbiana Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Columbiana's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Columbiana Infrastructure Age
With 47% 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
1982 is the median build year in Columbiana, and the age breakdown below shows how much of the housing predates 1986.
Most homes in Columbiana were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Columbiana
In Columbiana, estimated remediation comes to 1% or less of the median home value.
Estimated remediation costs in Columbiana can be compared with local home values. The $550–$1,400 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 51% above the Alabama average.
Columbiana: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
47% of Columbiana homes were constructed before 1986, when federal law began limiting lead in pipes, solder and flux. Across the city's ZIP codes, water systems' 90th-percentile lead results average no less than 0.010 mg/L. That average can mix higher and lower systems, so it neither confirms nor rules out a problem at a single address; asking the utility how the home's service line is classified in its inventory is a practical next step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Columbiana: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Columbiana contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,785. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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 $900 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 Columbiana
- 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 Columbiana: 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 47% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Columbiana, AL