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Community Water System · PWS AL0000035

Fairhope, City Of

Fairhope, Alabama 36533 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 59,484 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

59,484
People served
471
EPA violations
2
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 471 drinking-water violations at Fairhope, City Of - above the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

471
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
59,484
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Fairhope, City Of

Fairhope, City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 59,484 residents in Fairhope, Alabama (Baldwin County) through 19,828 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 471 total violations for this system , of which 2 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 464 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, recorded in 11 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 15 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Alabama, EPA tracks 562 public water systems serving 6,193,356 people, with 40,486 cumulative violations and 3,786 health-based violations on record. About 99% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 72 violations. Statewide, 157 of 306 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (51.3%).

Fairhope, City Of's 471 violations sit above the Alabama average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

2 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
59,484
Total Violations
471
Health-Based Violations
2
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
19,828
County
Baldwin
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
2
Monitoring Violations
464
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2010
Xylenes, Total MR 11 2010
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 2010
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 2010
Vinyl chloride MR 11 2010
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2010
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2010
Carbon tetrachloride MR 11 2010
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 11 2010
Trichloroethylene MR 11 2010
Tetrachloroethylene MR 11 2010
CHLOROBENZENE MR 11 2010
Benzene MR 11 2010
Ethylbenzene MR 11 2010
Styrene MR 11 2010
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 11 2010
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 11 2010
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 11 2010
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 11 2010
Toluene MR 11 2010
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 11 2010
Endrin MR 6 2020
Methoxychlor MR 6 2020
Dalapon MR 6 2020
Diquat MR 6 2020
Endothall MR 6 2020
Glyphosate MR 6 2020
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 6 2020
OXAMYL MR 6 2020
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 6 2020

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 348 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDoA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/18/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/18/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/18/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/18/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/18/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/18/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/18/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/18/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/18/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Fairhope, City Of.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID AL0000035 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Alabama Drinking Water Authority

Alabama's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find AL regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 3 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 4000
2025 Radium-226 MR 3 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 4020
2025 Radium-228 MR 3 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 4030
2025 Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 3 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 4100
2021 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 8000
2020 Endrin MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2005
2020 Methoxychlor MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2015
2020 Dalapon MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2031
2020 Diquat MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2032
2020 Endothall MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2033
2020 Glyphosate MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2034
2020 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2035
2020 OXAMYL MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2036
2020 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2039
2020 Dinoseb MR 6 SDWIS / AL0000035 / 2041

How Fairhope, City Of Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Fairhope, City Of Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 471 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 2 6.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 2 compounds 51.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 59,484 11,020 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 562 regulated public water systems in Alabama.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fairhope, City Of water safe to drink?
Fairhope, City Of (PWS ID: AL0000035) has 471 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 59,484 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Fairhope, City Of serve?
Fairhope, City Of serves 59,484 people in Fairhope, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 19,828 service connections.
What type of violations does Fairhope, City Of have?
Fairhope, City Of has 471 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 464 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Fairhope, City Of water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Fairhope, City Of's water supply: PFOS, PFOA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Fairhope, City Of use?
Fairhope, City Of uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.