PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS AL0000728

Section (Wwb of the Town Of)

Rainsville, Alabama 35986 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 35,259 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

35,259
People served
43
EPA violations
9
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 43 drinking-water violations at Section (Wwb of the Town Of), 21% of them health-based - below the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

43
Total EPA violations on record
21%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
35,259
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Section (Wwb of the Town Of)

Section (Wwb of the Town Of) is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 35,259 residents in Rainsville, Alabama (Jackson County) through 10,983 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 43 total violations for this system , of which 9 (21%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 29 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 6 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7.7 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%).

Section (Wwb of the Town Of)'s 43 violations sit below 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
35,259
Total Violations
43
Health-Based Violations
9
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
10,983
County
Jackson
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
9
Monitoring Violations
29
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 2010
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 3 2001
Arsenic MR 2 2023
Cadmium MR 2 2023
Chromium MR 2 2023
CYANIDE MR 2 2023
Fluoride MR 2 2023
Mercury MR 2 2023
Nickel MR 2 2023
Nitrite MR 2 2023
Antimony, Total MR 2 2023
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2023
Thallium, Total MR 2 2023
Selenium MR 2 2023
Nitrate MR 2 2023
Barium MR 2 2023
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 1992

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
8:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/10/2024 7.70 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
NFDHA 7/10/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/10/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/10/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/10/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/10/2024 3.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 4/10/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/10/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 4/10/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 4/10/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/10/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 4/10/2024 5.10 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 4/10/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 4/10/2024 5.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/10/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 4/10/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Section (Wwb of the Town 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 AL0000728 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
2023 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1005
2023 Cadmium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1015
2023 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1020
2023 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1024
2023 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1025
2023 Mercury MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1035
2023 Nickel MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1036
2023 Nitrite MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1041
2023 Antimony, Total MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1074
2023 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1075
2023 Thallium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1085
2023 Selenium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1045
2023 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1040
2023 Barium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 1010
2010 Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 SDWIS / AL0000728 / 3100

How Section (Wwb of the Town Of) Compares

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

Metric Section (Wwb of the Town Of) Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 43 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 9 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 35,259 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 Section (Wwb of the Town Of) water safe to drink?
Section (Wwb of the Town Of) (PWS ID: AL0000728) has 43 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 35,259 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Section (Wwb of the Town Of) serve?
Section (Wwb of the Town Of) serves 35,259 people in Rainsville, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 10,983 service connections.
What type of violations does Section (Wwb of the Town Of) have?
Section (Wwb of the Town Of) has 43 total violations: 9 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 29 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Section (Wwb of the Town Of) water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Section (Wwb of the Town Of)'s water supply: PFBA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Section (Wwb of the Town Of) use?
Section (Wwb of the Town Of) uses Surface Water 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.