Myrtlewood, AL Water Safety: 95/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
Water systems serving Myrtlewood hold a strong EPA compliance record — the city places among the better-performing areas in AL with few health-based violations on file.
How Myrtlewood Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Myrtlewood Water
- Average lead level: 0.0012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 90% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.92 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Myrtlewood
Water service in Myrtlewood, AL is organized around a single utility — one of 1 tracked by regulator, and the one that manages the local distribution network while holding primary responsibility for EPA compliance reporting.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Myrtlewood, Alabama (population ~157), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 4,095 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Myrtlewood — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Myrtlewood: A (95/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Myrtlewood water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0012 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36763 | A | Myrtlewood Water System | 4,095 |
All ZIP Codes in Myrtlewood
- 36763 [A]
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
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Myrtlewood
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Myrtlewood
With 90% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Myrtlewood — it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1963 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Myrtlewood 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Myrtlewood Homeowners
When the numbers for Myrtlewood are taken together, the remediation share is clearly in the elevated category — most homeowners here are weighing a commitment that extends beyond routine property upkeep, and the practical value of documenting scope early, prioritizing by urgency, and mapping costs against the household budget is proportionally higher at this tier.
At 2.2% of home value, remediation costs in Myrtlewood represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $800–$1,800. Home values here are 67% below the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Myrtlewood
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.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 90% of Myrtlewood homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Myrtlewood
The NFIP's multi-decade dataset for Myrtlewood shows limited claims and limited zone coverage — a pattern that holds consistent implications for water quality. Flooding disrupts treatment systems and distribution infrastructure in proportion to event frequency, and environments with infrequent flood activity keep those disruption pathways largely dormant.
Myrtlewood has a relatively low flood history with 4 FEMA claims on record. While risk is limited, severe weather events can still impact water infrastructure.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,200</strong> remediation cost per household.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Myrtlewood, AL