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Community Water System · PWS AL0000820

Smiths Water and Sewer Authority

Smiths Station, Alabama 36877 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 31,695 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

31,695
People served
27
EPA violations
0
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 27 drinking-water violations at Smiths Water and Sewer Authority - below the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

27
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
31,695
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Smiths Water and Sewer Authority

Smiths Water and Sewer Authority is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 31,695 residents in Smiths Station, Alabama (Lee County) through 10,565 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 27 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 23 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 Fluoride, recorded in 4 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 6.3 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%).

Smiths Water and Sewer Authority's 27 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

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

Population Served
31,695
Total Violations
27
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
10,565
County
Lee
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
23
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Fluoride MR 4 2022
Nitrite MR 4 2022
Nitrate MR 4 2022
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 2023
Arsenic MR 1 2022
Barium MR 1 2022
Cadmium MR 1 2022
Chromium MR 1 2022
Mercury MR 1 2022
Nickel MR 1 2022
Antimony, Total MR 1 2022
Thallium, Total MR 1 2022
Beryllium, Total MR 1 2022
Selenium MR 1 2022
CYANIDE MR 1 2022

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 20 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/23/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/23/2024 4.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/23/2024 4.70 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 7/23/2024 4.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/23/2024 3.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/23/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/23/2024 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/23/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/30/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/30/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/30/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/30/2024 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFMPA 5/30/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/30/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/30/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/30/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/30/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/30/2024 3.30 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/30/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/30/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/30/2024 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 5/30/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/30/2024 <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 Smiths Water and Sewer Authority.

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 AL0000820 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 8000
2022 Fluoride MR 4 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1025
2022 Nitrite MR 4 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1041
2022 Nitrate MR 4 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1040
2022 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1005
2022 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1010
2022 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1015
2022 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1020
2022 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1035
2022 Nickel MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1036
2022 Antimony, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1074
2022 Thallium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1085
2022 Beryllium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1075
2022 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1045
2022 CYANIDE MR 1 SDWIS / AL0000820 / 1024

How Smiths Water and Sewer Authority Compares

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

Metric Smiths Water and Sewer Authority Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 27 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 31,695 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 Smiths Water and Sewer Authority water safe to drink?
Smiths Water and Sewer Authority (PWS ID: AL0000820) has 27 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 31,695 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Smiths Water and Sewer Authority serve?
Smiths Water and Sewer Authority serves 31,695 people in Smiths Station, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 10,565 service connections.
What type of violations does Smiths Water and Sewer Authority have?
Smiths Water and Sewer Authority has 27 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 23 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Smiths Water and Sewer Authority water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Smiths Water and Sewer Authority's water supply: PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Smiths Water and Sewer Authority use?
Smiths Water and Sewer Authority 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.