Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority
EPA ID: AL0000189 · 11,013 people served · 4 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA records for Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority (AL0000189): no drinking-water violations recorded since 2021. Zero violations are listed in EPA monitoring data for Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority; a count of records like this is not a water-quality test for the 11,013 residents it serves.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Demographics of ZIP Codes Served
The ZIP codes associated with Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority have a median household income of $50,297 and about 31,819 residents live in those ZIP codes (Census; not the number of people this system supplies). Approximately 54% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: On average, 71% of census tracts in the counties mapped to this service area are designated disadvantaged by the federal Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST, 2022 version). Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority's water is classified in EPA records as a groundwater source. 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
PFAS in ZIP Codes This System Serves
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with the ZIP codes in this system's area. These results can come from other water systems serving the same ZIP codes; check the UCMR5 section for any results reported for this system. 22 detections recorded. 6 detections are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS), with compliance required from 2029.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Alabama
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
Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority (EPA ID: AL0000189) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 11,013 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| Below the reporting limit | No | 2025-12-31 |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
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: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.
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 available EPA compliance records for Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority (AL0000189) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.
How many people does Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority serve?
Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority serves approximately 11,013 people across 4 ZIP codes in Alabama.
Where does Cherokee County Water & Sewer Authority get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: No PFAS Reported Above Reporting Levels
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were reported above UCMR5 minimum reporting levels.
EPA's April 2024 PFAS rule sets MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX); water systems must comply from 2029. Other PFAS compounds have no individual federal MCL. A state standard is shown only where this system's state has its own enforceable PFAS limit. Detection results are EPA UCMR5 samples, not a measurement at your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Cherokee County Water and Sewer Authority: Serves 11K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000189/
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