Mobile, AL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 96/100
36 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Mobile: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Unlike many cities its size in AL, Mobile keeps health-based violation rates low - systems here score at or above the state average for tap water safety, with no systemic concerns flagged in the current data set.
How Mobile Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Mobile, AL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Mobile.
Mobile Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 190 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0019 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,394 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.59 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Mobile
3 independent water providers serve Mobile, AL - 5 systems appear in federal records.
- A
- A
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 36 ZIP codes in Mobile, Alabama (population ~266,822), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 400,839 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 20 of 36 ZIP codes.
20 of 20 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 9 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Mobile: A (96/100)
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
Mobile water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0019 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 20 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 36 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 138 | 20 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 53 | 20 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 21 | 20 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 15 | 2 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 15 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36695 | — | 142 | 1 | City of Mobile, Bd. of W&s Commission of the |
| 36608 | B | 112 | 1 | City of Mobile, Bd. of W&s Commission of the |
| 36611 | A | 52 | 9 | Prichard Water Works Board |
| 36605 | A | 34 | 1 | City of Mobile, Bd. of W&s Commission of the |
| 36619 | A | 34 | 1 | Mobile County Water & Fire Pro Authority |
| 36693 | A | 34 | 1 | City of Mobile, Bd. of W&s Commission of the |
| 36602 | — | 20 | 9 | City of Mobile, Bd. of W&s Commission of the |
| 36603 | A | 20 | 9 | City of Mobile, Bd. of W&s Commission of the |
| 36610 | A | 20 | 9 | Prichard Water Works Board |
| 36612 | A | 20 | 9 | Prichard Water Works Board |
All ZIP Codes in Mobile
- 36601
- 36602 - 20 violations ⚠
- 36603 [A] - 20 violations ⚠
- 36604 [A] - 4 violations ⚠
- 36605 [A] - 34 violations ⚠
- 36606 [A] - 4 violations ⚠
- 36607 - 4 violations ⚠
- 36608 [B] - 112 violations ⚠
- 36609 - 4 violations ⚠
- 36610 [A] - 20 violations ⚠
- 36611 [A] - 52 violations ⚠
- 36612 [A] - 20 violations ⚠
- 36615 - 4 violations ⚠
- 36616
- 36617 - 20 violations ⚠
- 36618 [A] - 20 violations ⚠
- 36619 [A] - 34 violations ⚠
- 36625
- 36628
- 36630
- 36633
- 36640
- 36641
- 36644
- 36652 - 4 violations ⚠
- 36660
- 36663 - 4 violations ⚠
- 36670
- 36671
- 36675
- 36685
- 36688 - 4 violations ⚠
- 36689
- 36691
- 36693 [A] - 34 violations ⚠
- 36695 - 142 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 Mobile
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 Mobile
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Mobile: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Given current Mobile valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low - most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.
Remediation costs in Mobile are relatively low compared to home values. The $894–$2,231 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 6% below the Alabama average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Mobile
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 Mobile 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Mobile
Historical NFIP data for Mobile contains 6,906 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $31,306. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 72% 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>$1,394</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 Mobile, AL