Water System Report AL

Mulga Water Department

EPA ID: AL0000755 ยท 5,991 people served ยท 4 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Mulga Water Department (AL0000755): a lead 90th-percentile reading above the EPA action level. EPA monitoring data for Mulga Water Department shows an unblemished five-year compliance history - no violations of any kind have been recorded for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 5,991 people, covering every reporting cycle without a single MCL exceedance or monitoring lapse.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 71
Avg Safety Score
5,991
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.017 mg/L
Max Lead Level - Exceeds Limit
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$146K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Mulga Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$60,242
Median Household Income
41,904
Service Area Population
48%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
74%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Mulga Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $60,242 and an estimated 41,904 residents across its service area. Approximately 74% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 48% 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.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Mulga Water Department'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
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

55 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
15 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 79% 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. 2 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 โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alabama

1 violation
0 violations
1 violation
Headland Water Works
6,003 people
3 violations
B 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,350
PFAS Treatment $525
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $75
Total Estimated Cost $2,350

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:

Lead Exposure - Child Lifetime Cost $10,000

Per affected child (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,945
10 years
$5,890
20 years
$11,780

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,350 (one-time) vs. $5,890 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

Mulga Water Department (EPA ID: AL0000755) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 5,991 people from surface water sources.

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

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (71/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 4 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

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.017 mg/L Yes N/A
Lead exceeds EPA action level in at least one sampling location. Consider using a certified NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 filter rated for lead removal.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” 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 Mulga Water Department (AL0000755) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mulga Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Mulga Water Department 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 Mulga Water Department serve?

Mulga Water Department serves approximately 5,991 people across 4 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does Mulga Water Department 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.

Samples collected
116
Detections
1
Latest sample
12/3/2024
Highest analyte
PFHxA: 3.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxA 3.6 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Mulga Water Department safe to drink?
Mulga Water Department 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?
Mulga Water Department meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Mulga Water Department serve?
Mulga Water Department serves approximately 5,991 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Mulga Water Department's water source?
Mulga Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Mulga Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.017 mg/L. This exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. A lead-certified filter is recommended, especially for homes with young children.
What is the demographic profile of Mulga Water Department's service area?
The Mulga Water Department service area has a median household income of $60,242. EPA EJScreen data classifies 48% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Mulga Water Department get its water?
Mulga Water Department'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.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Mulga Water Department Water Quality Report, AL. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000755/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0000755,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Mulga Water Department Water Quality Report, AL}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000755/}
}
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