Water System Report AL

Margaret Water Works

EPA ID: AL0001199 ยท 6,336 people served ยท 5 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Margaret Water Works (AL0001199): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Compared to the national average for mid-size utilities, Margaret Water Works sits well above the baseline - five years of EPA monitoring show no violations, no MCL exceedances, and no enforcement actions for the full service territory of 6,336 people.

Data: EPA SDWIS

6,336
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$237K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Margaret Water Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$84,391
Median Household Income
74,772
Service Area Population
40%
Disadvantaged Population
58th
Poverty Percentile
68th
Energy Burden Percentile
21%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Margaret Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $84,391 and an estimated 74,772 residents across its service area.

Environmental Justice Note: 40% 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

Margaret Water Works'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
44th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

27 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
41 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 40% 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. 25 detections recorded. 4 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 4 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

0 violations
0 violations
Kushla Water District
6,294 people
30 violations
New Hope Water System
6,231 people
D 0 violations
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $580
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,180

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 $2,180 (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

Margaret Water Works (EPA ID: AL0001199) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 6,336 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

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
0.002 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 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 Margaret Water Works (AL0001199) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Margaret Water Works water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Margaret Water Works 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 Margaret Water Works serve?

Margaret Water Works serves approximately 6,336 people across 5 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does Margaret Water Works 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
174
Detections
12
Latest sample
8/6/2025
Highest analyte
PFBS: 23.8 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 23.8 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 17.2 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBA 9.2 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 6.5 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

Should I use a water filter?
Margaret Water Works meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Margaret Water Works serve?
Margaret Water Works serves approximately 6,336 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Margaret Water Works's water source?
Margaret Water Works draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Margaret Water Works's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.002 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Margaret Water Works's service area?
The Margaret Water Works service area has a median household income of $84,391. EPA EJScreen data classifies 40% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Margaret Water Works get its water?
Margaret Water Works'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.). Margaret Water Works Water Quality Report, AL. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0001199/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0001199,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Margaret Water Works Water Quality Report, AL}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0001199/}
}
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