Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer
EPA ID: AL0001313 · 166,524 people served · 19 ZIP codes
Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer shows 1 active EPA violation in the federal database for a service population of approximately 166,524.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 19 (2022) to 6 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
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: 36% 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?
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.
About 1% of homes in Tuscaloosa 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
Detected Contaminants
How Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer compares to EPA limits
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.
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 →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Alabama
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
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 19 ZIP codes across 8 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
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2023 | Fecal Coliform | 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 |
| 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 →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35401 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35402 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35403 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35404 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35405 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35406 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35407 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35485 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35486 | 0.005 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 35487 | 0.005 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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 12 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 7 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 35401 — Tuscaloosa
- 35402 — Tuscaloosa
- 35403 — Tuscaloosa
- 35404 — Tuscaloosa
- 35405 — Tuscaloosa
- 35406 — Tuscaloosa
- 35407 — Tuscaloosa
- 35453 — Cottondale
- 35456 — Duncanville
- 35473 — Northport
- 35475 — Northport
- 35476 — Northport
- 35478 — Peterson
- 35482 — Samantha
- 35485 — Tuscaloosa
- 35486 — Tuscaloosa
- 35487 — Tuscaloosa
- 35490 — Vance
- 35546 — Berry
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?
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer has recorded 2 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 Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serve?
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer serves approximately 166,524 people across 19 ZIP codes in Alabama.
Where does Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer 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.
Contact information from City of Tuscaloosa 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: City of Tuscaloosa Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The City of Tuscaloosa conducted a Source Water Assessment in 2020 that assists in protecting our water sources. This plan provides information such as potential sources of contamination. It classifies potential contaminants as high, moderate, or non-susceptible to contaminating the water source.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
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.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Tuscaloosa 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.
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 →
A complete service line inventory for the City of Tuscaloosa has been prepared and is available on the water department's website at https://www.tuscaloosawater.com/water-line-inventory.
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.
City of Tuscaloosa
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:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
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.
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.
- In 2024, the Jerry Plott Plant received the Best Operated Plant Award for plants producing 10.1 – 20 MGD from the Alabama Water Pollution Control Association.
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.
- #66 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #25 / 50 Most Disadvantaged Populations Served (Alabama)
- #1 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Alabama)
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Tuscaloosa Water & Sewer (EPA ID: AL0001313) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.