Tuscaloosa, AL: 4 Health Violations - Home Safety 81/100
10 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Tuscaloosa: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Within Tuscaloosa, AL, the available records add up to an upper-tier grade; that grade describes records, not the water at a given faucet.
How Tuscaloosa Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Tuscaloosa, AL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Tuscaloosa score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Tuscaloosa Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0006 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $360 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.34.
Who Supplies Your Water in Tuscaloosa
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 7 tied to Tuscaloosa, AL.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 10 ZIP codes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (population ~133,062), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 248,652 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 10 ZIP codes.
5 of 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Tuscaloosa: B (81/100)
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
Tuscaloosa water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0006 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
9 of 10 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2. 1 of 10 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 3.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 19 | 5 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 15 | 5 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 5 |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35404 | B | 9 | 4 | Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer |
| 35405 | B | 8 | 2 | Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer |
| 35406 | B | 7 | 2 | Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer |
| 35401 | B | 6 | 2 | Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer |
| 35487 | B | 6 | 2 | Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer |
All ZIP Codes in Tuscaloosa
- 35401 [B] - 6 violations ⚠
- 35402
- 35403
- 35404 [B] - 9 violations ⚠
- 35405 [B] - 8 violations ⚠
- 35406 [B] - 7 violations ⚠
- 35407
- 35485
- 35486
- 35487 [B] - 6 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 Tuscaloosa
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 Tuscaloosa Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Tuscaloosa Homeowners
Estimated remediation for Tuscaloosa is a small fraction of median property value - one percent or less - though the ratio does not describe any single household.
Estimated remediation costs in Tuscaloosa can be compared with local home values. The $180–$780 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 36% above the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Tuscaloosa
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.
Available area-level lead records for Tuscaloosa do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. 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 NFIP Claim Context in Tuscaloosa
Historical NFIP data for Tuscaloosa contains 220 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,029. 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 $360 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 Tuscaloosa, AL