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Community Water System · PWS AL0000967

South Alabama Utilities Water System

Citronelle, Alabama 36522 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 39,249 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

39,249
People served
426
EPA violations
5
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 426 drinking-water violations at South Alabama Utilities Water System, 1% of them health-based - above the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

426
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
39,249
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: South Alabama Utilities Water System

South Alabama Utilities Water System is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 39,249 residents in Citronelle, Alabama (Mobile County) through 19,568 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 426 total violations for this system , of which 5 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 421 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 Styrene, recorded in 12 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 17 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%).

South Alabama Utilities Water System's 426 violations sit above 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
39,249
Total Violations
426
Health-Based Violations
5
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
19,568
County
Mobile
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
5
Monitoring Violations
421
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Styrene MR 12 2023
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 11 2023
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 11 2023
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 2023
Vinyl chloride MR 11 2023
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2023
Carbon tetrachloride MR 11 2023
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 11 2023
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 11 2023
Trichloroethylene MR 11 2023
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 11 2023
Tetrachloroethylene MR 11 2023
Benzene MR 11 2023
Ethylbenzene MR 11 2023
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 11 2023
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2023
CHLOROBENZENE MR 11 2023
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2023
Xylenes, Total MR 11 2023
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 2023
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 11 2023
Toluene MR 11 2023
Radium-228 MR 9 2023
Radium-226 MR 7 2023
Coliform (TCR) MCL 5 2000
Endrin MR 5 2023
BHC-GAMMA MR 5 2023
Methoxychlor MR 5 2023
Diquat MR 5 2023
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 5 2023

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 812 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFPeS 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/31/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 5/31/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 5/31/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 5/31/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 5/31/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 5/31/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 5/31/2023 <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 South Alabama Utilities Water System.

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 AL0000967 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 Styrene MR 12 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2996
2023 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2378
2023 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2964
2023 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2968
2023 Vinyl chloride MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2976
2023 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2979
2023 Carbon tetrachloride MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2982
2023 1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2981
2023 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2983
2023 Trichloroethylene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2984
2023 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2985
2023 Tetrachloroethylene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2987
2023 Benzene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2990
2023 Ethylbenzene MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 2992
2023 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 11 SDWIS / AL0000967 / 4000

How South Alabama Utilities Water System Compares

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

Metric South Alabama Utilities Water System Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 426 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 5 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 39,249 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 South Alabama Utilities Water System water safe to drink? ▼
South Alabama Utilities Water System (PWS ID: AL0000967) has 426 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 39,249 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does South Alabama Utilities Water System serve? ▼
South Alabama Utilities Water System serves 39,249 people in Citronelle, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 19,568 service connections.
What type of violations does South Alabama Utilities Water System have? ▼
South Alabama Utilities Water System has 426 total violations: 5 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 421 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in South Alabama Utilities Water System water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in South Alabama Utilities Water System's water supply: PFBA, 6:2 FTS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does South Alabama Utilities Water System use? ▼
South Alabama Utilities Water System uses Groundwater 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.