Monitoring Violations AL

City of Florence, Water Department,

EPA ID: AL0000783 · 77,766 people served · 8 ZIP codes

Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, City of Florence, Water Department, shows 1 active EPA violation in the federal database for a service population of approximately 77,766.

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

C · 59
Avg Safety Score
77,766
People Served
8
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.005 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
1
Contaminants Flagged
$190K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Florence, Water Department, Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$66,008
Median Household Income
81,013
Service Area Population
41%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Florence, Water Department, serves a community with a median household income of $66,008 and an estimated 81,013 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 41% 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

City of Florence, 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.

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

About 1% of homes in Lauderdale 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

46 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
22 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 68% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Florence, Water Department, compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Contaminant 2105 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. 39 detections recorded. 14 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 14 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

C 3 violations
Bessemer Water Service
86,091 people
C 11 violations
Auburn Water Works
65,313 people
B 1 violation
D 4 violations
City of Fairhope
59,484 people
B 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $750
PFAS Treatment $525
Total Estimated Cost $2,475

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,475 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

FLORENCE, WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF (EPA ID: AL0000783) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 77,766 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 8 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (59/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 monitoring/reporting violation recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Contaminant 2105 Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 2105 Other Violation 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
35630 0.005 mg/L No N/A
35631 0.005 mg/L No N/A
35632 0.005 mg/L No N/A
35633 0.005 mg/L No N/A
35634 0.005 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 5 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Florence, Water Department, (AL0000783) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Florence, Water Department, water safe to drink?

City of Florence, Water Department, has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does City of Florence, Water Department, serve?

City of Florence, Water Department, serves approximately 77,766 people across 8 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does City of Florence, Water Department, get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
(256) 760-6490
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
P.O. Box 1023, Florence, AL 35631

Contact information from City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorinefluoridelime

Source: City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
The City of Florence Water Department has performed source water assessments for the Wilson Lake Treatment Plant located on the Wilson Lake (Tennessee River) and the Cypress Creek Treatment Plant located on Cypress Creek. In addition, assessments have been completed for Peck Lane and Houston Hill's wells.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine
pH adjustment
Raises or lowers water acidity to protect pipes and improve treatment performance.
lime
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Microbial contaminantsInorganic contaminantsPesticides and herbicidesOrganic chemical contaminantsRadioactive contaminantsUrban stormwater runoffWastewater dischargesSeptic systems

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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
290
Detections
16
Latest sample
5/16/2024
Highest analyte
PFOS: 17 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOS 17 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOA 9.7 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBA 9.7 ppt
PFBS 5.1 ppt
PFHxA 3.2 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:

2
Confirmed Lead
3,882
Galvanized — Replacement Required
17,542
Unknown Material
5,889
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: 77,766
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 →

Aesthetic water quality

These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.

pH
7.4
How acidic or basic the water is on a 0-14 scale. Drinking water is typically near neutral.
EPA secondary range: 6.5 – 8.5
Fluoride
0.68 ppm
Utility adds fluoride
Measured fluoride concentration in parts per million.
EPA secondary MCL: 2.0 ppm
Alkalinity
64.2 ppm CaCO₃
Capacity of the water to neutralize acids, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent.
Total dissolved solids
112 ppm
Mineral content remaining after evaporation, including calcium, magnesium, sodium, and other dissolved substances.
EPA secondary MCL: 500 ppm

Aesthetic measurements from City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Federal compliance violations on record

These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).

  • reporting · SOC
    2023-04
    Florence Water Department incurred a SOC reporting non-compliance during the calendar year of 2023. The SOC result was submitted to the department on April 14, 2023 and did not meet the January 10, 2023 deadline.

Violations record from City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from City of Florence Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Florence Water Department incurred a SOC reporting non-compliance during the calendar year of 2023; result submitted April 14, 2023, missing the January 10, 2023 deadline.
  • Cypress Creek WTP had a 0.0021 ppb result for PFAS. Wilson Lake WTP had a 0.036 ppb result for PFAS.

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

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

Is water from City of Florence, Water Department, safe to drink?
City of Florence, Water Department, has a C safety grade based on 1 recorded violation. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in City of Florence, Water Department,'s water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 2105. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Florence, Water Department, serve?
City of Florence, Water Department, serves approximately 77,766 people with drinking water across 8 ZIP codes.
What is City of Florence, Water Department,'s water source?
City of Florence, Water Department, draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Florence, Water Department,'s water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.005 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Florence, Water Department,'s service area?
The City of Florence, Water Department, service area has a median household income of $66,008. EPA EJScreen data classifies 41% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Florence, Water Department, get its water?
City of Florence, 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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Florence, Water Department, (EPA ID: AL0000783) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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