Gadsden, AL: 25 Violations - Home Safety 60/100
6 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gadsden: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Gadsden earns a C grade for AL; check the EPA record for the system that serves your address.
How Gadsden Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Gadsden, AL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Gadsden score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Gadsden Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 25 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0029 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 65% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 16.17.
Who Supplies Your Water in Gadsden
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 9 tied to Gadsden, AL.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Gadsden, Alabama, covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 65,544 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 6 ZIP codes.
5 of 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gadsden: C (60/100)
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
Gadsden water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0029 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
6 of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 4 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 4 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 5 | 4 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 5 | 4 |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35901 | C | 24 | 0 | City of Gadsden, the Wwsb of the |
| 35904 | C | 24 | 0 | City of Gadsden, the Wwsb of the |
| 35905 | C | 24 | 0 | Glencoe Water Works Board |
| 35903 | C | 23 | 0 | City of Gadsden, the Wwsb of the |
| 35907 | C | 1 | 0 | Southside Water Works and Sewer Board |
All ZIP Codes in Gadsden
- 35901 [C] - 24 violations
- 35902
- 35903 [C] - 23 violations
- 35904 [C] - 24 violations
- 35905 [C] - 24 violations
- 35907 [C] - 1 violation
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.
Health Outcomes in Gadsden
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
Top Contaminants in Gadsden Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Gadsden
With 65% 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
Renovation history matters as much as age: in Gadsden, with a median build year of 1975, some older homes have been replumbed and some have not.
Over half of homes in Gadsden 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Gadsden Homeowners
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - Gadsden is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in Gadsden can be compared with local home values. The $400–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 6% above the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Gadsden
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.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Gadsden
Historical NFIP data for Gadsden contains 78 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $7,111. 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 $600 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 Gadsden
- 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 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), listed in the water-quality records for Gadsden: 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 65% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Gadsden, AL