Water System Report AL

West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority

EPA ID: AL0000582 · 6,900 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Federal monitoring records confirm West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority has operated without any EPA violations for the full five-year window — covering every contaminant category and reporting cycle across a service area of approximately 6,900 residents, with no gaps in the compliance record.

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

6,900
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$131K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$56,004
Median Household Income
29,452
Service Area Population
77%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
57%
Pre-1986 Housing

The West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority serves a community with a median household income of $56,004 and an estimated 29,452 residents across its service area. Approximately 57% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 77% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. 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?

Surface Water

West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
50th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
20th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Etowah 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

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
18 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 74% 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. 22 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alabama

B 11 violations
0 violations
B 0 violations
A 5 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration
PFAS Treatment $600
Radon Mitigation $400
Flood Insurance $400
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $1,500

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 $1,500 (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

West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority (EPA ID: AL0000582) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 6,900 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

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

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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 West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority (AL0000582) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority serve?

West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority serves approximately 6,900 people across 3 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
174
Detections
15
Latest sample
7/10/2024
Highest analyte
PFBS: 120 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 21 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 17 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 120 ppt
PFPeA 43 ppt
PFHxA 25 ppt
PFBA 14 ppt

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
22
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1
Unknown Material
2,343
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: 6,900
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

Should I use a water filter?
West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority serve?
West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority serves approximately 6,900 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority's water source?
West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority's service area?
The West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority service area has a median household income of $56,004. EPA EJScreen data classifies 77% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority get its water?
West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
Home Water Systems Alabama West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority

Get safety alerts for West Etowah Water & Fire Pro Authority, Alabama

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.