Water System Report AL

Madison County Water Department

EPA ID: AL0000888 · 119,100 people served · 33 ZIP codes

Zero EPA violations over five years — Madison County Water Department has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 119,100.

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

D · 49
Avg Safety Score
119,100
People Served
33
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$265K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$92,361
Median Household Income
345,399
Service Area Population
27%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
40th
Energy Burden Percentile
41%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Madison County Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $92,361 and an estimated 345,399 residents across its service area. Approximately 41% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Madison County 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
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
49th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Limestone 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

40 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 61% 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. 175 detections recorded. 57 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 57 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

City of Dothan Utilities
97,146 people
A 5 violations
Bessemer Water Service
86,091 people
C 11 violations
C 1 violation
C 3 violations
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer
166,524 people
B 4 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 $839
PFAS Treatment $579
Total Estimated Cost $2,618

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 $2,618 (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

Madison County Water Department (EPA ID: AL0000888) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 119,100 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 33 ZIP codes across 10 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (49/100)

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

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.

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: 12 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 21 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 33 ZIP codes:

35739 · 35741 · 35749 · 35750 · 35757 35759 · 35761 · 35763 · 35773 · 35801 35802 · 35803 · 35804 · 35805 · 35806 35807 · 35808 · 35809 · 35810 · 35811 35812 · 35813 · 35814 · 35815 · 35816 35824 · 35893 · 35894 · 35895 · 35896 35897 · 35898 · 35899

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Madison County Water Department (AL0000888) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison County Water Department water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Madison County Water Department has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Madison County Water Department serve?

Madison County Water Department serves approximately 119,100 people across 33 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does Madison County 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
290
Detections
9
Latest sample
9/8/2025
Highest analyte
PFBA: 8.3 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 8.3 ppt
PFOS 5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 4.7 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
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
42,630
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 119,100
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 →

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 Madison County Water Department safe to drink?
Madison County Water Department has a D safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
Should I use a water filter?
Madison County 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 Madison County Water Department serve?
Madison County Water Department serves approximately 119,100 people with drinking water across 33 ZIP codes.
What is Madison County Water Department's water source?
Madison County Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Madison County Water Department's service area?
The Madison County Water Department service area has a median household income of $92,361. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Madison County Water Department get its water?
Madison County 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.

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

Madison County Water Department (EPA ID: AL0000888) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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