Community Water System · PWS AL0000738
Central Alabama Water System
Birmingham, Alabama 35283 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 585,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 585,000
- People served
- 13
- EPA violations
- 0
- Health-based
- 5 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 13 drinking-water violations at Central Alabama Water System - below the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.
- 13
- Total EPA violations on record
- 0%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 585,000
- People served by this system
- 5
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Central Alabama Water System
Central Alabama Water System is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 585,000 residents in Birmingham, Alabama (Jefferson County) through 285,263 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 13 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 13 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 Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 5 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 11.3 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%).
Central Alabama Water System's 13 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.
5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 285,263
- County
- Jefferson
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 13
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 5 | 2023 |
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 4 | 2014 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 4 | 2009 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 11 of 464 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFEESA | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 9/26/2024 | 5.50 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHpS | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 9/26/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 9/26/2024 | 5.60 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFMPA | 9/26/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 9/26/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 9/26/2024 | 5.80 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFHpA | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 9/26/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 9/26/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 9/26/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 9/26/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 9/26/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 9/26/2024 | 8.50 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| PFUnA | 9/26/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 9/26/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 9/26/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 9/26/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 9/26/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 8/21/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 8/21/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 8/21/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 8/21/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 8/21/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 8/21/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 8/21/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 8/21/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 8/21/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 8/21/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 8/21/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 8/21/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 8/21/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 8/21/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 8/21/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 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 Central Alabama Water System.
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 AL0000738 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
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 SDWISViolation 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 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 5 | SDWIS / AL0000738 / 5000 |
| 2014 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 4 | SDWIS / AL0000738 / 0800 |
| 2009 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 4 | SDWIS / AL0000738 / 3100 |
How Central Alabama Water System Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Central Alabama Water System | Alabama avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 13 | 72 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 6.7 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 5 compounds | 51.3% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 585,000 | 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 Central Alabama Water System water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Central Alabama Water System serve? ▼
What type of violations does Central Alabama Water System have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Central Alabama Water System water? ▼
What water source does Central Alabama Water System use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
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.