Mulga, AL: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 71/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Mulga: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
In ZipCheckup's scoring, Mulga, AL lands in the A-B grade tier.
How Mulga Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Mulga Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.017 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 67% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,820 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.86.
Who Supplies Your Water in Mulga
Among 3 systems linked to Mulga, AL, the 3 biggest by population served appear below.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Mulga, Alabama (population ~3,131), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 629,691 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 Mulga: B (71/100)
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
Mulga water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0170 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 | 4 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
| 2,4-D | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35118 | B | 7 | 1 | Mulga Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Mulga
- 35118 [B] - 7 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.
Health Outcomes in Mulga
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 Mulga Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Mulga
With 67% 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
Some homes in Mulga predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1976.
Over half of homes in Mulga 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 Mulga Homeowners
Of the low, moderate and elevated tiers on this page, Mulga falls in the elevated one - its remediation estimate tops 2% of median home value.
Estimated remediation costs in Mulga equal about 3.1% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,130–$6,760. Home values here are 5% below the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Mulga
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.
67% of the Mulga housing stock was built before 1986, when federal law limited lead in pipes, solder and flux. Averaged across the city's ZIP codes, water systems' 90th-percentile lead results come to more than 0.015 mg/L. That figure is not one system's compliance result and not a measurement from any home, but together with the age of the housing it makes checking a home's service line and tap water a reasonable priority.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Mulga
Historical NFIP data for Mulga contains 1 flood insurance claim. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $17,675. 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 $4,820 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 Mulga, AL