Hartselle, AL: 22 Violations - Home Safety 59/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Hartselle: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
If you're checking Hartselle, AL tap water safety, the short answer is: average - violations are present in parts of the city and specifics depend on which water system serves your address.
How Hartselle Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Hartselle Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 22 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0028 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 52% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.84 - above typical levels.
Hartselle's Water Providers
Water delivery in Hartselle, AL is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system - drawn from 5 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Hartselle, Alabama (population ~26,976), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 156,645 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Hartselle: C (59/100)
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
Hartselle water systems draw from: 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35640 | C | 22 | 0 | City of Hartselle Utility Board, |
All ZIP Codes in Hartselle
- 35640 [C] - 22 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.
Hartselle 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 Hartselle's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Hartselle Infrastructure Age
With 52% 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
Because the majority of Hartselle's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1985 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Hartselle 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Hartselle
Viewed from a financial planning lens, Hartselle sits in the moderate remediation-share tier - the equity impact of addressing documented issues is real, and deliberate preparation separates smooth outcomes from disruptive ones for most homeowners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Hartselle. The estimated $1,900–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 19% above the Alabama average.
Hartselle: 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.
When older housing represents 52% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Hartselle address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Hartselle: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Hartselle contains 43 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $20,713. 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>$2,900</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.
What You Can Do in Hartselle
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Hartselle's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 52% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Hartselle, AL