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Community Water System · PWS AL0000729

Scottsboro Water Works

Scottsboro, Alabama 35768 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 22,200 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

22,200
People served
14
EPA violations
8
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 14 drinking-water violations at Scottsboro Water Works, 57% of them health-based - below the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

14
Total EPA violations on record
57%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
22,200
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Scottsboro Water Works

Scottsboro Water Works is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 22,200 residents in Scottsboro, Alabama (Jackson County) through 7,400 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 14 total violations for this system , of which 8 (57%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. The most recent violation on record dates to 2003.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, 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 9.8 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%).

Scottsboro Water Works's 14 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
22,200
Total Violations
14
Health-Based Violations
8
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
7,400
County
Jackson
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
8
Monitoring Violations
0
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 6 1998
Coliform (TCR) MCL 2 2003

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 207 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
ADONA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/31/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/31/2023 5.60 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFBS 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/31/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/31/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/31/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/26/2023 8.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
NFDHA 7/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/26/2023 <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 Scottsboro Water Works.

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 AL0000729 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
2003 Coliform (TCR) MCL 2 SDWIS / AL0000729 / 3100
1998 TTHM MCL 6 SDWIS / AL0000729 / 2950

How Scottsboro Water Works Compares

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

Metric Scottsboro Water Works Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 14 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 8 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 22,200 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 Scottsboro Water Works water safe to drink? ▼
Scottsboro Water Works (PWS ID: AL0000729) has 14 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 22,200 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Scottsboro Water Works serve? ▼
Scottsboro Water Works serves 22,200 people in Scottsboro, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 7,400 service connections.
What type of violations does Scottsboro Water Works have? ▼
Scottsboro Water Works has 14 total violations: 8 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 0 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Scottsboro Water Works water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in Scottsboro Water Works's water supply: PFBA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Scottsboro Water Works use? ▼
Scottsboro Water Works 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.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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.