Historical Compliance Records AL 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer

EPA ID: AL0001313 ยท 166,524 people served ยท 12 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer (AL0001313): 2 past health-based violations, since resolved. Over the tracked period, Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer logged 6 EPA violations - each has been remedied, and the system now supplies 166,524 people in good standing.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 81
Avg Safety Score
166,524
People Served
12
ZIP Codes Served
6
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
3
Contaminants Flagged
$190K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$67,224
Median Household Income
206,300
Service Area Population
39%
Disadvantaged Population
52th
Poverty Percentile
71th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serves a community with a median household income of $67,224 and an estimated 206,300 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 39% 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

Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer'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
52th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
11th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

34 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
35 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 49% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 3 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

What This Means For You

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

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

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Alabama

F 29 violations
City of Dothan Utilities
97,146 people
2 violations
4 violations
Bessemer Water Service
86,091 people
D 4 violations
2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,150
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $125
Total Estimated Cost $1,675

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.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,000
10 years
$10,000
20 years
$20,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,675 (one-time) vs. $10,000 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

Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer (EPA ID: AL0001313) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 166,524 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 12 ZIP codes across 6 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (81/100)

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 6 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 4 resolved, 2 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
July 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Non-health-based Archived
July 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Non-health-based Archived
August 1, 2023 Fecal Coliform Health-based Resolved
April 1, 2022 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Non-health-based Resolved
April 1, 2022 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2022 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Health-based Resolved

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 3 Yes
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 1 Yes

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 โ†’

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0 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 Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer (AL0001313) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer; its 6 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serve?

Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serves approximately 166,524 people across 12 ZIP codes in Alabama.

Where does Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer 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
232

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†’

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 Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer safe to drink?
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer earns a B safety grade with 6 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Fecal Coliform. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 3 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 Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serve?
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serves approximately 166,524 people with drinking water across 12 ZIP codes.
What is Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer's water source?
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer's service area?
The Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer service area has a median household income of $67,224. EPA EJScreen data classifies 39% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer get its water?
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer'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.). Tuscaloosa Water and Sewer (AL): 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0001313/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-al0001313,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Tuscaloosa Water and Sewer (AL): 2 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0001313/}
}

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 โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer (EPA ID: AL0001313) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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