Central Alabama Water System
EPA ID: AL0000738 · 585,000 people served · 62 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Central Alabama Water System (AL0000738): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. Not yet resolved: 1 EPA violation at Central Alabama Water System, affecting about 585,000 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Central Alabama Water System Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Central Alabama Water System serves a community with a median household income of $68,179 and an estimated 861,742 residents across its service area. Approximately 59% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 47% 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?
Central Alabama Water System'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.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Central Alabama Water System compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Stage 1 DBP 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. 305 detections recorded. 25 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 25 exceed state limits.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →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
Central Alabama Water System (EPA ID: AL0000738) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 585,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 62 ZIP codes across 31 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (72/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 36 of 62 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: 0 resolved, 2 archived, 0 addressed, and 1 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, 2026 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Non-health-based | Archived |
| January 1, 2026 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Non-health-based | Archived |
| October 11, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001764 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
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.
This system serves 62 ZIP codes:
35004 · 35005 · 35020 · 35022 · 35023 35049 · 35061 · 35062 · 35063 · 35064 35068 · 35071 · 35073 · 35079 · 35080 35091 · 35094 · 35097 · 35116 · 35117 35118 · 35120 · 35124 · 35125 · 35126 35127 · 35133 · 35147 · 35172 · 35173 35176 · 35180 · 35203 · 35204 · 35205 35206 · 35207 · 35208 · 35209 · 35210 35211 · 35212 · 35213 · 35214 · 35215 35216 · 35217 · 35218 · 35221 · 35222 35223 · 35224 · 35226 · 35228 · 35229 35233 · 35234 · 35235 · 35242 · 35243 35244 · 35254
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Central Alabama Water System (AL0000738) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Central Alabama Water System water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current noncompliance record and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does Central Alabama Water System serve?
Central Alabama Water System serves approximately 585,000 people across 62 ZIP codes in Alabama.
Where does Central Alabama Water System get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Central Alabama Water System (AL): 3 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000738/
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0000738,
author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Central Alabama Water System (AL): 3 EPA Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000738/}
}
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
Central Alabama Water System (EPA ID: AL0000738) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.