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Community Water System · PWS AL0000824

Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of

Athens, Alabama 35612 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 40,596 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

40,596
People served
53
EPA violations
8
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 53 drinking-water violations at Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of, 15% of them health-based - below the Alabama per-system average.

53
Total EPA violations on record
15%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
40,596
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of

Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 40,596 residents in Athens, Alabama (Limestone County) through 13,552 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 53 total violations for this system , of which 8 (15%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 35 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2008.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 5 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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%).

Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of's 53 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.

Population Served
40,596
Total Violations
53
Health-Based Violations
8
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
13,552
County
Limestone
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
8
Monitoring Violations
35
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2005
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 4 2002
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2008
Chromium MR 2 2003
Nickel MR 2 2003
Nitrite MR 2 2003
Thallium, Total MR 2 2003
Selenium MR 2 2003
Arsenic MR 2 2003
Antimony, Total MR 2 2003
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2003
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2001
Fluoride MR 2 2003
CYANIDE MR 2 2003
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 2003
Barium MR 2 2003
Nitrate MR 2 2003
Cadmium MR 2 2003
Mercury MR 2 2003
Public Notice Other 1 2008

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFMPA 9/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/19/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/19/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/4/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/4/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/4/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/4/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/4/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/4/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/4/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/4/2024 <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 Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the 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 AL0000824 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
2008 Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 3100
2008 Public Notice Other 1 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 7500
2005 Coliform (TCR) MR 5 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 3100
2003 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1020
2003 Nickel MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1036
2003 Nitrite MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1041
2003 Thallium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1085
2003 Selenium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1045
2003 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1005
2003 Antimony, Total MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1074
2003 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1075
2003 Fluoride MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1025
2003 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1024
2003 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 4000
2003 Barium MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000824 / 1010

How Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of Compares

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

Metric Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 53 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 None 51.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 40,596 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 Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of water safe to drink?
Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of (PWS ID: AL0000824) has 53 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 40,596 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of serve?
Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of serves 40,596 people in Athens, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 13,552 service connections.
What type of violations does Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of have?
Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of has 53 total violations: 8 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 35 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of water?
No. Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City Of use?
Athens, the Waterworks Bd of the City 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.