Water System Report AL

City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the

EPA ID: AL0000038 · 36,798 people served · 5 ZIP codes

Compared to the national average for mid-size utilities, City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the sits well above the baseline — five years of EPA monitoring show no violations, no MCL exceedances, and no enforcement actions for the full service territory of 36,798 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 72
Avg Safety Score
36,798
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0024 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$367K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$70,937
Median Household Income
65,934
Service Area Population
19%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
32%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the serves a community with a median household income of $70,937 and an estimated 65,934 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the'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.

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

About 1% of homes in Baldwin County, Alabama rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

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

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 10 detections recorded. 4 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 2 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alabama

Trussville Utilities
36,300 people
C 0 violations
City of Cullman
35,496 people
0 violations
D 2 violations
0 violations
Pelham Water Works
38,703 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,820
PFAS Treatment $120
Total Estimated Cost $1,940

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

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

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,940 (one-time) vs. $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

GULF SHORES, THE UB OF THE CITY OF (EPA ID: AL0000038) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 36,798 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (72/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
36542 0.0024 mg/L No N/A
36547 0.0024 mg/L No N/A

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: 4 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the (AL0000038) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the serve?

City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the serves approximately 36,798 people across 5 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(251) 968-6148 or (251) 968-6323
Address
149 East 16th Ave., Gulf Shores, AL

Contact information from GULF SHORES UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Groundwater
Drawn from underground aquifers via wells.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorinefluorideorthophosphate

Source: GULF SHORES UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine
Corrosion inhibitor
Coats pipe interiors to reduce lead and copper leaching from premise plumbing.
orthophosphate
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from GULF SHORES UTILITIES Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
87

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 →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
14
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
14,960
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 40,947
Reported to Alabama

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the safe to drink?
City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the serve?
City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the serves approximately 36,798 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the's water source?
City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0024 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the's service area?
The City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the service area has a median household income of $70,937. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the get its water?
City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the'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 available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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