Huntsville, AL: 38 Violations - Home Safety 47/100
24 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Huntsville: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
A meaningful share of water systems in Huntsville have recorded health-based violations in recent AL monitoring periods - placing the city in the lower tier for tap water safety.
How Huntsville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Huntsville, AL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Huntsville's 10 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Huntsville Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 38 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0014 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,425 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.86 - above typical levels.
Huntsville's Water Providers
Federal records list 4 water systems tied to Huntsville, AL. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 24 ZIP codes in Huntsville, Alabama (population ~214,900), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 442,476 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 11 of 24 ZIP codes.
4 of 11 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (36%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Huntsville: D (47/100)
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
Huntsville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0014 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 11 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 24 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
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 | 8 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 4 | 3 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 4 | 3 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 4 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35806 | D | 29 | 0 | Huntsville Utilities Water Department |
| 35810 | D | 29 | 0 | Huntsville Utilities Water Department |
| 35811 | D | 29 | 0 | Madison County Water Department |
| 35824 | D | 9 | 0 | Huntsville Utilities Water Department |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35801 | D | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
| 35802 | D | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
| 35803 | D | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
| 35805 | D | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
| 35808 | — | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
| 35816 | D | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
| 35896 | D | Huntsville Utilities Water Department | 310,107 |
All ZIP Codes in Huntsville
- 35801 [D]
- 35802 [D]
- 35803 [D]
- 35804
- 35805 [D]
- 35806 [D] - 29 violations
- 35807
- 35808
- 35809
- 35810 [D] - 29 violations
- 35811 [D] - 29 violations
- 35812
- 35813
- 35814
- 35815
- 35816 [D]
- 35824 [D] - 9 violations
- 35893
- 35894
- 35895
- 35896 [D]
- 35897
- 35898
- 35899
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.
Huntsville 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 Huntsville's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Huntsville
What does remediation cost in financial context for Huntsville homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Huntsville are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,621–$3,242 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 57% above the Alabama average.
Huntsville: 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.
Lead risk in Huntsville appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Huntsville: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Huntsville contains 540 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $19,312. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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>$2,425</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 Huntsville
- 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 Huntsville's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Huntsville, AL