Historical Compliance Records AL

Madison County Water Department

EPA ID: AL0000888 · 119,100 people served · 12 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Madison County Water Department (AL0000888): 29 EPA violations in the last five years. Madison County Water Department carries 29 resolved violations in the five-year EPA record - each has been formally closed, and the supplier, which serves approximately 119,100 people, now meets all applicable federal drinking water standards with no open enforcement activity remaining.

Data: EPA SDWIS

F · 39
Avg Safety Score
119,100
People Served
12
ZIP Codes Served
29
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0024 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
29
Contaminants Flagged
$260K
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 F

Service Area Demographics

$87,341
Median Household Income
221,395
Service Area Population
27%
Disadvantaged Population
41th
Poverty Percentile
41th
Energy Burden Percentile
32%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Madison County Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $87,341 and an estimated 221,395 residents across its service area.

🌊 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
41th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
48th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

29 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
38 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 43% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Madison County Water Department compares to EPA limits

Contaminant 2015 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.0005 mg/L
Probable carcinogen; liver & thyroid damage, immune suppression
Atrazine 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.003 mg/L
Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects
Benzene 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.005 mg/L
Contaminant 2110 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.005 mg/L
Leukemia & blood cancers (known carcinogen)

What This Means For You

Contaminant 2015 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.0005 mg/L. Probable carcinogen; liver & thyroid damage, immune suppression. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Atrazine at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.003 mg/L. Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Benzene at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L.

Contaminant 2110 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L. Leukemia & blood cancers (known carcinogen). Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Contaminant 2005 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. 59 detections recorded. 19 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 19 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 →

Contaminant 2015 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

City of Dothan Utilities
97,146 people
2 violations
4 violations
Bessemer Water Service
86,091 people
D 4 violations
2 violations
Decatur, Municipal Ub of
77,103 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $1,300
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $3,100

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,100 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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 12 ZIP codes across 10 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: F (39/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 7 of 12 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 current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 29 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 29 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 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 11, 2023 Contaminant 2005 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2010 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2015 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2020 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2031 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2032 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2033 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2034 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2035 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2036 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2037 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Atrazine Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2040 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2041 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2042 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2046 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Benzene Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2051 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2065 Non-health-based Resolved
January 11, 2023 Contaminant 2067 Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 2005 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2010 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2015 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2020 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2031 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2032 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2033 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2034 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2035 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2036 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2037 Other Violation 1 No
Atrazine Organic 1 No
Contaminant 2040 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2041 Other Violation 1 No
Contaminant 2042 Other Violation 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0024 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 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: 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 Madison County Water Department (AL0000888) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Madison County Water Department water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Madison County Water Department; its 29 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Madison County Water Department serve?

Madison County Water Department serves approximately 119,100 people across 12 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 →

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 F safety grade based on 29 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Madison County Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 2015, Atrazine, Benzene, Contaminant 2110. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants 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 Madison County Water Department serve?
Madison County Water Department serves approximately 119,100 people with drinking water across 12 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.
Is there lead in Madison County Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0024 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
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 $87,341. 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 the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Madison County Water Department (AL): 29 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000888/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0000888,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Madison County Water Department (AL): 29 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0000888/}
}

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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