Water System Report AL

Margaret Water Works

EPA ID: AL0001199 · 6,336 people served · 6 ZIP codes

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 Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 69
Avg Safety Score
6,336
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.002 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$222K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$83,438
Median Household Income
90,105
Service Area Population
40%
Disadvantaged Population
58th
Poverty Percentile
68th
Energy Burden Percentile
26%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Margaret Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $83,438 and an estimated 90,105 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.

🌊 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
43th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in St. Clair 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

30 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
39 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 43% 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. 33 detections recorded. 6 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 6 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

Kushla Water District
6,294 people
A 1 violation
B 4 violations
New Hope Water System
6,213 people
C 0 violations
B 1 violation
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 $583
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,183

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 $2,183 (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 6 ZIP codes across 6 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (69/100)

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

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
35112 0.002 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 Margaret Water Works (AL0001199) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Margaret Water Works water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Margaret Water Works serve?

Margaret Water Works serves approximately 6,336 people across 6 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
PFPeA 17.2 ppt
PFBA 9.2 ppt
PFHxA 6.5 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
64
Unknown Material
2,095
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: 6,336
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Margaret Water Works safe to drink?
Margaret Water Works has a C safety grade based on 0 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
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 6 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 $83,438. 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.

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

Margaret Water Works (EPA ID: AL0001199) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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