ZipCheckup grade for 35080: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Your top priority: use a filter certified to reduce PFAS; check which ones. Check your ZIP → EPA PFAS info

Health Violations Found
C 64

Helena, AL (35080): PFAS Above 2029 MCL Level - 64/100

EPA data combined for 4 water systems mapped to this ZIP (largest mapped system: City of Helena, the Ub of the)

Health Violations Found PFAS Detected

Health-based violation records by water system:

EPA records for the water systems mapped to 35080 in Helena, AL contain 28 recorded violations for inclusive record years 2021 through 2026, all mapped systems combined; 1 are marked health-based.

Data source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SDWIS

Based on EPA Drinking Water FEMA Flood Data U.S. Census CDC Energy Information Admin. USGS Water Data & 9 more federal sources
Latest air quality, EPA records and weather alerts Current data temporarily unavailable
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Water records and current conditions
Current EPA violation data unavailable
Safety Score
C 64/100
Water Quality PFAS above MCL 1 health-based violation
Lead Risk Below action level 0.0011 mg/L, 90th percentile, sample period ending 2025-12-31
NFIP Claim History Claim records 18 claims
Data confidence: High (direct measurement) Medium (sampled / sub-geography) Low (modeled / inferred) Methodology →

At a Glance

  • Water EPA records for water systems mapped to this ZIP show 1 health-based violation and 27 non-health-based (since 2021).
  • Lead The reported 90th-percentile lead result of 0.0011 mg/L is below the EPA action level for water systems; EPA's health goal for lead is zero.
  • PFAS At least one PFAS result is above an EPA MCL value (UCMR5 sampling; MCL compliance required from 2029).
  • Radon EPA Zone 2 - county-level radon potential, not a home measurement.
  • Flood 18 cumulative NFIP claim records. Claim evidence is historical, not current map coverage.
Contaminant Summary
Health Violations
28 violations 1 health-based PFAS detected 1 risk identified
Report data assembled: Jul 27, 2026 EPA water-system identity: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record EPA violation history: more than two update cycles old Lead, copper and UCMR measurements: source date or period is not present in ZipCheckup's accepted source record
C
ZIP-level Home Safety model score: 64 / 100
Bottom 23% of U.S. ZIP codes
4
Water Systems
21,300
People Served
1
Health Violations (since 2021)Median is 0
Surface water
Water Source
0.0011 mg/L
Reported Lead ResultBelow the national median of system results
Zone 2
County Radon Potential · Moderate
$279K
Median Home Value88% above state median ($148K)

Get updates when new water-quality data is available for your area

Free alerts when new EPA data affects ZIP code 35080. No spam - just safety updates.

Unsubscribe anytime. We only send updates when your safety score changes. See our Privacy Policy.

Share Your Area Home Safety Score

Tip: You can also screenshot the card above to share it as an image.

Score Breakdown

Overall Home Safety Score: 64/100

This is the published model score. Component and domain values are shown independently; they are not added together on this page.

Canonical components

EPA water compliance
86/100
Observed
PFAS MCL screen
0/100
Observed
EPA radon zone
50/100
Observed
Annual EPA AirData AQI
100/100
Observed

Required domains

Drinking water
43/100
Indoor environment
50/100
Outdoor environment
100/100

Coverage: 4 of 4 components and 3 of 3 domains observed.

Model 4.0.0; series home-safety-v4-cross-vertical.

Safety & Health (8) CRITICAL

Your Water System

ZIP code 35080 in Helena, Alabama is mapped to the water system City of Helena, the Ub of the (EPA ID: AL0001157). This system provides water to approximately 21,300 people from surface water sources.

There are 4 community water systems serving this area.

Water Systems Serving This Area

System Name EPA ID Population Source
City of Helena, the Ub of the AL0001157 21,300 Surface water
City of Alabaster Water Department, AL0001148 40,986 Surface water
Central Alabama Water System AL0000738 585,000 Surface water
City of Pelham, AL0001163 38,703 Surface water

Other Water Quality Reports in Alabama

Nearby Water Quality Reports

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View available EPA compliance records for City of Helena, the Ub of the (AL0001157) on EPA.gov.

3 of the top compounds applied across the surrounding county in USGS pesticide-use estimates appear on EPA drinking-water monitoring lists. See the agricultural pesticide-use section.

📊 EPA Safe Drinking Water · View source →

PFAS Contamination Detected

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with ZIP code 35080. One or more compound results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029.

Detected compounds: PFBS, PFPeA, PFOA, PFOS, PFHxA, PFBA, PFHpA, 6:2 FTS, PFHxS.

Highest measured level: 0.085 µg/L

Reverse osmosis (RO) and activated carbon block filters can reduce PFAS at the tap. Certifications list the compounds covered: an NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 claim for PFOA/PFOS does not cover every PFAS, so check that the product lists the compounds detected here.

📊 EPA UCMR5 · View source →

Health Risks from Detected Contaminants

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)

High Risk

EPA reference value: 0.08 mg/L · 3 violations on record

Long-term exposure is associated with increased cancer risk, including bladder cancer; possible reproductive effects

At-risk groups: pregnant women, long-term consumers of chlorinated water

Treatment options (verify a product is certified to reduce this contaminant): granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, point-of-entry aeration · Find a filter →

📊 EPA SDWIS + SDWA · View source →
Environmental Hazards (11) MODERATE
Home & Infrastructure (6) OK
Cost & Community (9) MODERATE

CPSC product recall notices

These national notices are not matched to this ZIP code or water system.

View all recalls →

📊 CPSC · View source →

Protect Your Home in Helena

Based on local data for ZIP 35080, these services may benefit homeowners in your area.

Based on local data for your area. Use the tools below to explore your options.

Home & Flood Insurance

The ZIP code for this report in Helena has 18 FEMA flood claims on record. Standard homeowner policies don't cover flood damage - make sure you're protected.

Typical cost: Flood insurance: premiums vary by property and flood zone; request a quote

Check Your Flood Zone (Free)

FEMA flood map lookup - see if your property is in a flood zone

Free tip: Check your FEMA flood zone at msc.fema.gov (free lookup)

Service recommendations are based on public data for this ZIP code (FEMA, Census ACS, NWS). Actual needs vary by property. By calling, your information will be shared with an independent service provider. ZipCheckup may receive compensation. Cost estimates are approximate and vary by property, condition, and contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water in 35080 safe to drink?

EPA SDWIS records 28 violations since 2021 across the water systems mapped to ZIP 35080 (primary system: City of Helena, the Ub of the), including 1 health-based. The violation table above shows which system each record belongs to. ZipCheckup last updated this page in July 2026. The federal source release date is unavailable, so that month is not presented as source currency.

Where does 35080's water come from?

The recorded water source for City of Helena, the Ub of the, a system mapped to ZIP code 35080, is Surface water. This system serves approximately 21,300 people.

How does Helena water compare to the national average?

Helena's Home Safety Score ranks lower than 77% of U.S. ZIP codes, and lower than 70% of ZIP codes within Alabama.

How can I get my water tested in Helena?

If City of Helena, the Ub of the supplies your home, contact it for its Consumer Confidence Report; otherwise contact the water utility that serves your address, or hire a certified lab for independent home water testing. The EPA recommends annual testing if you use a private well.

Is lead a concern in 35080 tap water?

The Lead and Copper Rule record selected for 35080 reports a 90th-percentile lead result of 0.0011 mg/L for a water system mapped to this ZIP (record date 2025-12-31). The EPA action level is 0.015 mg/L. This result is below the EPA action level; it does not show the lead level in each home.

What is the radon risk for 35080?

35080 is mapped to a county in EPA Radon Zone 2 (moderate county-level radon potential; EPA recommends testing every home), located in Shelby County. EPA radon zones range from Zone 1 (highest county-level potential) to Zone 3 (lowest). Testing your home is recommended regardless of zone.

Are there PFAS (forever chemicals) in 35080's water?

Yes, PFAS have been detected in samples from water systems mapped to 35080. One or more PFAS results are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL with compliance required from 2029. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 specifically for PFOA/PFOS reduction can reduce PFAS.

What does the NFIP claim history show for ZIP 35080?

FEMA records contain 18 flood insurance claims filed in ZIP code 35080; the recorded rated-zone value (the most frequent one if there are several claims) is AE, which is claims evidence and may differ from the current FEMA map zone for a property. Claim records do not establish current property risk. Review FEMA's map for the specific property.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Helena, AL (35080): PFAS Above 2029 MCL Level - 64/100. https://zipcheckup.com/report/35080/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-report-35080,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Helena, AL (35080): PFAS Above 2029 MCL Level - 64/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/report/35080/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

Nearby ZIP Code Reports

Water quality comparison for ZIP codes near 35080

ZIP Code City, State Distance Grade Violations
35114 Maylene, AL 2.9 mi C 4
35144 Siluria, AL 5.1 mi N/A 0
35022 Bessemer, AL 5.3 mi C 7
35244 Birmingham, AL 7.5 mi B 28
35266 Birmingham, AL 7.9 mi N/A 0
35124 Pelham, AL 8.0 mi C 28
35007 Alabaster, AL 8.0 mi C 35
35137 Saginaw, AL 8.1 mi N/A 0
35226 Birmingham, AL 9.8 mi B 7
35142 Shannon, AL 9.9 mi N/A 0

Contaminants Detected in 35080

Learn more about the contaminants found in your water supply:

Overall safety breakdown

Home Safety Score →

Find the right water filter

Water Filter Matcher →

Compare filters, tests & services

Compare My Options →

Compare with another ZIP

Compare Tool →
Coverage: 14/17 risk factors Data sources →
Get alerts for 35080