COUNTY REPORT AL

Shelby County, Alabama

20 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

EPA monitoring reports for Shelby County cover 20 ZIP codes and tell a largely reassuring story — compliance rates are high and health-based violations are far below the national norm.

How Shelby County Compares

Shelby County70/100
Alabama avg73/100
National avg68/100

How Shelby County Compares

B
County Grade
70/100
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
25
Water Systems

Shelby County scores 3 points below the Alabama state average (73/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
70
Avg Safety Score
20
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 35051 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 35185 (53/100)
$248K
Median Home Value
$1,855
Avg Remediation (75% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Shelby County, Alabama

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 12.4 (asthma 9.4%, diabetes 11.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $586, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.232% avg pipe failure probability

32.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.4% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 32.3% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1992
Median Build Year
32.9%
Pre-1978 Housing
23%
Pipe Failure Probability
0%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Moderate
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $586

Flood $520/yr
Energy Code Gap $59/yr
Water / Lead $8/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

97,464 housing units in Shelby County

Pre-1940 1%
1940–1959 3%
1960–1979 13%
1980–1999 44%
2000+ 39%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Shelby County

$248K
Median Home Value
$1,855
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Shelby County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Shelby County residents

Asthma 9.4% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 32.3% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Shelby County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Alabaster Water Board 41,061 12
2 Calera Water Works 26,982 12
3 Montevallo Water Works & Sewer 9,741 12
4 CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM 585,000 12
5 Shelby County Commission-water Services 40,101 11

25 total water systems serve Shelby County.

All ZIP Codes in Shelby County

20 ZIP codes tracked in Shelby County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 35051 Columbiana 83 B 0 $248K
2 35078 Harpersville 83 B 0 $191K
3 35186 Wilsonville 83 B 0 $289K
4 35187 Wilton 83 B 0
5 35040 Calera 81 B 5 $211K
6 35115 Montevallo 79 B 4 (1 health) $166K
7 35080 Helena 78 B 0 $279K
8 35147 Sterrett 78 B 8 $283K
9 35242 Birmingham 76 B 2 $452K
10 35244 Birmingham 76 B 2 $391K
11 35178 Vincent 74 B 3 $152K
12 35007 Alabaster 72 B 3 $232K
13 35124 Pelham 68 C 0 $283K
14 35114 Maylene 63 C 0 $280K
15 35143 Shelby 63 C 0 $212K
16 35035 Brierfield 53 D 0
17 35137 Saginaw 53 D 0
18 35144 Siluria 53 D 0
19 35176 Vandiver 53 D 0 $114K
20 35185 Westover 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Shelby County

Below: editorial picks, no sponsored placements.

Overview

Shelby County in Alabama covers 20 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).

7 of 20 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.

← Back to Alabama water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Shelby County?
Shelby County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 20 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Shelby County?
Shelby County is served by 25 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 20 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Shelby County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Shelby County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $586 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Shelby County?
The median home build year in Shelby County is 1992. 32.9% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Shelby County compare to Alabama?
Shelby County has an average water safety score of 70/100, which is below the Alabama state average of 73/100.

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