Health Violations Found AL 4 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department

EPA ID: AL0000926 · 10,500 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Unlike fully compliant utilities, Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department has 5 outstanding EPA violations for approximately 10,500 residents.

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

B · 75
Avg Safety Score
10,500
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
11
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0018 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
7
Contaminants Flagged
$101K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 4 (2022) to 2 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$53,849
Median Household Income
17,096
Service Area Population
91%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
83th
Energy Burden Percentile
69%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department serves a community with a median household income of $53,849 and an estimated 17,096 residents across its service area. Approximately 69% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 91% 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

Hamilton Water and Wastewater 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
38th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
13th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Marion 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

51 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
19 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 73% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department compares to EPA limits

Contaminant 1009 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.004 mg/L
Intestinal damage, bone damage
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 7 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns
Lead 1 mg/L (action level) (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.015 mg/L (action level)
Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults

What This Means For You

Contaminant 1009 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.004 mg/L. Intestinal damage, bone damage. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.

Total Organic Carbon at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded.

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 1009 was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alabama

B 0 violations
0 violations
B 1 violation
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Opp Utilities Board
10,266 people
A 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Water Filtration Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $375
Flood Insurance $300
PFAS Treatment $250
Total Estimated Cost $1,325

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 $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,325 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department (EPA ID: AL0000926) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 10,500 people from surface water sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: B (75/100)

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

Violation History

4 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 5 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved
May 1, 2025 Total Coliform Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
October 17, 2024 Stage 2 DBP Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Total Organic Carbon Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Health-based Resolved
April 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Health-based Unresolved
January 1, 2023 Contaminant 1009 Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Health-based Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 7 Yes
Contaminant 1009 Other Violation 2 No
Lead Inorganic 1 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Total Coliform Microbiological 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Stage 2 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No

Health Risk Details

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (EPA limit: 0.08 mg/L)

Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns At-risk groups: pregnant women, long-term consumers of chlorinated water, people who frequently shower in chlorinated water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, point-of-entry aeration. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
35552 0.0018 mg/L No N/A
35570 0.0012 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 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 Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department (AL0000926) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department water safe to drink?

Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department has recorded 4 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department serve?

Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department serves approximately 10,500 people across 4 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

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
267
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
3,882
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: 10,500
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 Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department safe to drink?
Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department earns a B safety grade with 11 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 1009, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Lead, Total Organic Carbon. 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 Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department serve?
Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department serves approximately 10,500 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department's water source?
Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0018 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department's service area?
The Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department service area has a median household income of $53,849. EPA EJScreen data classifies 91% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department get its water?
Hamilton Water and Wastewater 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

Hamilton Water and Wastewater Department (EPA ID: AL0000926) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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