PlainWater

Community Water System · PWS AL0000888

Madison County Water Department

Huntsville, Alabama 35811 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 119,100 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

119,100
People served
60
EPA violations
0
Health-based
3 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 60 drinking-water violations at Madison County Water Department - below the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds.

60
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
119,100
People served by this system
3
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Madison County Water Department

Madison County Water Department is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 119,100 residents in Huntsville, Alabama (Madison County) through 39,700 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 60 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 60 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 LASSO, recorded in 3 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 3 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 8.3 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%).

Madison County Water Department's 60 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

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

Population Served
119,100
Total Violations
60
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
39,700
County
Madison
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
60
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
LASSO MR 3 2023
Endrin MR 2 2023
BHC-GAMMA MR 2 2023
Methoxychlor MR 2 2023
Dalapon MR 2 2023
Diquat MR 2 2023
Glyphosate MR 2 2023
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 2023
OXAMYL MR 2 2023
Simazine MR 2 2023
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 2023
Picloram MR 2 2023
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 2 2023
Carbofuran MR 2 2023
Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 2023
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2023
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 2023
Pentachlorophenol MR 2 2023
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 2 2023
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 2 2023
Chlordane MR 2 2023
Dinoseb MR 2 2023
2,4-D MR 2 2023
Heptachlor MR 2 2023
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 2 2023
Atrazine MR 2 2023
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2023
Endothall MR 2 2023
Toxaphene MR 2 2023
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 1993

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 9 of 290 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFNA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/8/2025 5.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/8/2025 5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/8/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/8/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/8/2025 4.30 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/8/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/8/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/8/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/8/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/8/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/8/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/3/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/3/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/3/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/3/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/3/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/3/2025 8.30 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 6/3/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/3/2025 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/3/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/3/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/3/2025 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/3/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/3/2025 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/3/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/3/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/3/2025 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/3/2025 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/3/2025 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/3/2025 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/3/2025 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/3/2025 <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 Madison County Water Department.

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 AL0000888 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 LASSO MR 3 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2051
2023 Endrin MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2005
2023 BHC-GAMMA MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2010
2023 Methoxychlor MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2015
2023 Dalapon MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2031
2023 Diquat MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2032
2023 Glyphosate MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2034
2023 Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2035
2023 OXAMYL MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2036
2023 Simazine MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2037
2023 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2039
2023 Picloram MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2040
2023 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2042
2023 Carbofuran MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2046
2023 Heptachlor epoxide MR 2 SDWIS / AL0000888 / 2067

How Madison County Water Department Compares

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

Metric Madison County Water Department Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 60 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 3 compounds 51.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 119,100 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 Madison County Water Department water safe to drink?
Madison County Water Department (PWS ID: AL0000888) has 60 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 3 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 119,100 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Madison County Water Department serve?
Madison County Water Department serves 119,100 people in Huntsville, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 39,700 service connections.
What type of violations does Madison County Water Department have?
Madison County Water Department has 60 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 60 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Madison County Water Department water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 3 PFAS compounds in Madison County Water Department's water supply: PFOS, PFBA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Madison County Water Department use?
Madison County Water Department 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.