Houston County Water Authority
EPA ID: AL0001755 · 4,902 people served · 1 ZIP code
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Houston County Water Authority (AL0001755): 5 EPA violations in the last five years. Although 5 violations appeared on Houston County Water Authority's record, all have been remedied - currently compliant, 4,902 served.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Houston County Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary
Service Area Demographics
The Houston County Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $49,124 and an estimated 38,627 residents across its service area. Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 68% 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?
Houston County Water Authority's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Houston County Water Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Gross Alpha at 1 pCi/L exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L. Increased cancer risk from radioactive particles. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Radium-226 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.
Radium-228 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.
Contaminant 4100 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.
Gross Alpha was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis 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
Houston County Water Authority (EPA ID: AL0001755) is a community water system in Alabama that serves approximately 4,902 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 36301 in Dothan.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 3 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, 2023 | Gross Alpha | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Radium-226 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| July 1, 2023 | Radium-228 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Contaminant 4100 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| April 11, 2022 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Radium-226 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 4100 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0014 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.
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: 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.
- 36301 - Dothan
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Houston County Water Authority (AL0001755) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houston County Water Authority water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Houston County Water Authority; its 5 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Houston County Water Authority serve?
Houston County Water Authority serves approximately 4,902 people across 1 ZIP code in Alabama.
Where does Houston County Water Authority get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
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 →
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Houston County Water Authority (AL): 5 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0001755/
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title = {{Houston County Water Authority (AL): 5 EPA Violations}},
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/al0001755/}
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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
Houston County Water Authority (EPA ID: AL0001755) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.