Historical Compliance Records AL

City of Fairhope

EPA ID: AL0000035 · 59,850 people served · 9 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Fairhope (AL0000035): PFAS sampling above the current EPA limit (UCMR5). Records for City of Fairhope show 5 violations over the monitored period, with every finding addressed and officially closed - the provider, which serves approximately 59,850 people, carries no outstanding enforcement actions in the current EPA dataset and meets all applicable drinking water requirements.

Data: EPA SDWIS

A · 90
Avg Safety Score
59,850
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
5
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0014 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
5
Contaminants Flagged
$251K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Fairhope Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$67,819
Median Household Income
142,152
Service Area Population
19%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
30%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Fairhope serves a community with a median household income of $67,819 and an estimated 142,152 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Fairhope's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

32 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
37 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 46% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Fairhope compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Gross Alpha at 1 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L. Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Radium-226 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.

Radium-228 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.

Contaminant 4100 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 21 detections recorded. 6 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 6 exceed state limits.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Gross Alpha was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alabama

B 1 violation
0 violations
0 violations
8 violations
A 29 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,811
PFAS Treatment $200
Water Filtration $67
Total Estimated Cost $2,078

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,078 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Fairhope, (EPA ID: AL0000035) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 59,850 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: A (90/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 2 of 9 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 5 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 1 resolved, 4 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2025 Gross Alpha Non-health-based Archived
January 1, 2025 Radium-226 Non-health-based Archived
January 1, 2025 Radium-228 Non-health-based Archived
January 1, 2025 Contaminant 4100 Non-health-based Archived
January 11, 2021 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Gross Alpha Radionuclides 1 No
Radium-226 Radionuclides 1 No
Radium-228 Radionuclides 1 No
Contaminant 4100 Other Violation 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0014 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by AL or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Fairhope (AL0000035) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Fairhope water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for City of Fairhope; its 5 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does City of Fairhope serve?

City of Fairhope serves approximately 59,850 people across 9 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does City of Fairhope get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
348
Detections
4
Latest sample
9/18/2025
Highest analyte
PFOS: 15 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 15 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 5.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Fairhope safe to drink?
City of Fairhope earns a A safety grade with 5 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Fairhope's water?
Detected contaminants include Gross Alpha, Radium-226, Radium-228, Contaminant 4100. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Fairhope serve?
City of Fairhope serves approximately 59,850 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is City of Fairhope's water source?
City of Fairhope draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Fairhope's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0014 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Fairhope's service area?
The City of Fairhope service area has a median household income of $67,819. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Fairhope get its water?
City of Fairhope's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Fairhope (AL): 5 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000035/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0000035,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{City of Fairhope (AL): 5 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000035/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Fairhope (EPA ID: AL0000035) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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