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
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Fairhope Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade A
Service Area Demographics
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?
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.
Infrastructure Risk
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.
Gross Alpha was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
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
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 FilterFree 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.
- 36526 - Daphne
- 36530 - Elberta
- 36532 - Fairhope
- 36535 - Foley
- 36551 - Loxley
- 36559 - Montrose
- 36564 - Point Clear
- 36576 - Silverhill
- 36580 - Summerdale
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.
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 →
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.
- #18 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Alabama)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Fairhope (AL): 5 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000035/
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
City of Fairhope (EPA ID: AL0000035) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.