Water System Report AL

Sylacauga Utilities Board

EPA ID: AL0001258 · 24,087 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Water monitoring for Sylacauga Utilities Board: clean, five years, 24,087 residents.

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

C · 58
Avg Safety Score
24,087
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00058 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$136K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Sylacauga Utilities Board Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$63,438
Median Household Income
25,717
Service Area Population
69%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
87th
Energy Burden Percentile
63%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Sylacauga Utilities Board serves a community with a median household income of $63,438 and an estimated 25,717 residents across its service area. Approximately 63% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 69% 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

Sylacauga Utilities Board'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
37th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Talladega 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

53 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
15 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 78% 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. 12 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 2 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 Troy Utilities
23,523 people
A 3 violations
B 4 violations
C 2 violations
B 0 violations
Hartselle Utility Board
22,233 people
C 0 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 $1,000
PFAS Treatment $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,600

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 $2,600 (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

Sylacauga Utilities Board (EPA ID: AL0001258) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 24,087 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (58/100)

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
35150 0.00058 mg/L No N/A
35151 0.00058 mg/L No N/A

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: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Sylacauga Utilities Board (AL0001258) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sylacauga Utilities Board water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Sylacauga Utilities Board has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Sylacauga Utilities Board serve?

Sylacauga Utilities Board serves approximately 24,087 people across 3 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does Sylacauga Utilities Board get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
256-249-0372
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Address
301 N. Elm Avenue, Sylacauga, Alabama 35150

Contact information from Sylacauga Utilities Board Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
FluorideCorrosion inhibitorChlorine

Source: Sylacauga Utilities Board Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Sylacauga Utilities Board Consumer Confidence Report:
Low susceptibility to contamination per study with Alabama Geological Survey and ADEM.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
Chlorine
Corrosion inhibitor
Coats pipe interiors to reduce lead and copper leaching from premise plumbing.
Corrosion inhibitor
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
Fluoride

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Sylacauga Utilities Board Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

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
174

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 →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 4 ppt
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
Not disclosed No federal limit set
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 4 ppt
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Not disclosed 10 ppt
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
Not disclosed No federal limit set

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Sylacauga Utilities Board.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead service line replacement plan from Sylacauga Utilities Board Consumer Confidence Report:
Service line inventory shows no lead, galvanized requiring replacement, unknown status, lead connectors, or connectors of unknown materials.

Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker

This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

By submitting you agree to Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime via the link in any email.

Sylacauga Utilities Board

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.

Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →

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
8,535
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 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 24,087
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 →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from Sylacauga Utilities Board Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Park Well taken offline 6/15/22 due to PFAS detection under EPA interim health advisory limits.

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

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 Sylacauga Utilities Board safe to drink?
Sylacauga Utilities Board 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?
Sylacauga Utilities Board meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Sylacauga Utilities Board serve?
Sylacauga Utilities Board serves approximately 24,087 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Sylacauga Utilities Board's water source?
Sylacauga Utilities Board draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Sylacauga Utilities Board's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00058 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Sylacauga Utilities Board's service area?
The Sylacauga Utilities Board service area has a median household income of $63,438. EPA EJScreen data classifies 69% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Sylacauga Utilities Board get its water?
Sylacauga Utilities Board'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

Sylacauga Utilities Board (EPA ID: AL0001258) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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