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RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

PWS ID: AL0001145 · PHENIX CITY, Alabama 36868

RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY serves 16,923 people in PHENIX CITY, Alabama using Surface Water water sources. It has 27 recorded EPA violations, including 3 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (6 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 16,923 residents in PHENIX CITY, Alabama (Russell County) through 5,600 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 3 (11%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 19 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 5 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 0.0069 ppt. 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. RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY's 27 violations sit below the Alabama average. Statewide, 157 of 306 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (51.3%). 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

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

Population Served
16,923
Total Violations
27
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,600
County
Russell
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
19
Treatment Tech Violations
3

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2006
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 3 2024
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 3 2024
Public Notice Other 2 2024
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 2007
Selenium MR 1 2020
Mercury MR 1 2020
Chromium MR 1 2020
Barium MR 1 2020
Fluoride MR 1 2020
Cadmium MR 1 2020
Nitrite MR 1 2020
Beryllium, Total MR 1 2020
Nickel MR 1 2020
Antimony, Total MR 1 2020
Thallium, Total MR 1 2020
Arsenic MR 1 2020
CYANIDE MR 1 2020

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 26 of 300 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
ADONA 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/19/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 9/19/2023 0.0069 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Detected
6:2 FTS 9/19/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/19/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 9/19/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 9/19/2023 0.0062 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFEESA 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 9/19/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 9/19/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/19/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 9/19/2023 0.0038 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/19/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/19/2023 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/19/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/19/2023 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 9/19/2023 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 9/19/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 9/19/2023 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 9/19/2023 0.0053 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFOA 9/19/2023 0.0046 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFDA 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 9/19/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 9/19/2023 0.0052 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFUnA 9/19/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/21/2023 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/21/2023 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/21/2023 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/21/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 7/11/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 7/11/2023 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 7/11/2023 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/11/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/11/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/11/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 7/11/2023 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/11/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/11/2023 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 7/11/2023 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L 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 RUSSELL COUNTY WATER 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 AL0001145 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
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS TT 3 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 5200
2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS RPT 3 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 5200
2024 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 7500
2020 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1045
2020 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1035
2020 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1020
2020 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1010
2020 Fluoride MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1025
2020 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1015
2020 Nitrite MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1041
2020 Beryllium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1075
2020 Nickel MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1036
2020 Antimony, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1074
2020 Thallium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1085
2020 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001145 / 1005

How RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY Compares

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

Metric RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 27 72 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 6.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 51.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 16,923 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
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY water safe to drink? ▼
RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY (PWS ID: AL0001145) has 27 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 16,923 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY serve? ▼
RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY serves 16,923 people in PHENIX CITY, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,600 service connections.
What type of violations does RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY have? ▼
RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY has 27 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 19 monitoring/reporting violations, and 3 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY's water supply: PFBA, PFPeA, PFBS, PFOS, PFOA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does RUSSELL COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY use? ▼
RUSSELL COUNTY WATER 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.

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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.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial