Central Alabama Water System
EPA ID: AL0000738 · 585,000 people served · 100 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 Last verified: 2026-04-02
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 $68,370 and an estimated 890,121 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: 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
Stage 1 DBP Rule 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. 323 detections recorded. 28 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 28 exceed state limits.
Chlorite was detected in this water system. ferrous sulfate reduction 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 100 ZIP codes across 36 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (74/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2023 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Chlorite | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35201 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35202 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35203 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35204 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35205 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35206 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35207 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35208 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35209 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35210 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35211 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35212 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35213 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35214 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35215 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35216 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35217 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35218 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35219 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35220 | 0.001764 mg/L | No | N/A |
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: 63 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 37 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 100 ZIP codes:
35004 · 35005 · 35015 · 35020 · 35022 35023 · 35043 · 35049 · 35061 · 35062 35063 · 35064 · 35068 · 35071 · 35073 35079 · 35080 · 35091 · 35094 · 35097 35116 · 35117 · 35118 · 35119 · 35120 35124 · 35125 · 35126 · 35127 · 35133 35142 · 35146 · 35147 · 35172 · 35173 35176 · 35180 · 35201 · 35202 · 35203 35204 · 35205 · 35206 · 35207 · 35208 35209 · 35210 · 35211 · 35212 · 35213 35214 · 35215 · 35216 · 35217 · 35218 35219 · 35220 · 35221 · 35222 · 35223 35224 · 35226 · 35228 · 35229 · 35231 35232 · 35233 · 35234 · 35235 · 35236 35237 · 35238 · 35242 · 35243 · 35244 35246 · 35249 · 35253 · 35254 · 35255 35259 · 35260 · 35261 · 35266 · 35270 35282 · 35283 · 35285 · 35287 · 35288 35290 · 35291 · 35292 · 35293 · 35294 35295 · 35296 · 35297 · 35298 · 35299
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?
Central Alabama Water System has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Central Alabama Water System serve?
Central Alabama Water System serves approximately 585,000 people across 100 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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
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.
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. (2026). Central Alabama Water System (AL): 2 EPA Violations - 74/100. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000738/
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0000738,
author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Central Alabama Water System (AL): 2 EPA Violations - 74/100}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000738/}
}
Data as of April 2026.
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.