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Community Water System · PWS AL0001204

Pell City, City Of

Pell City, Alabama 35125 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 17,586 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

17,586
People served
62
EPA violations
6
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 62 drinking-water violations at Pell City, City Of, 10% of them health-based - below the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

62
Total EPA violations on record
10%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
17,586
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Pell City, City Of

Pell City, City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 17,586 residents in Pell City, Alabama (St. Clair County) through 5,862 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 62 total violations for this system , of which 6 (10%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 50 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2018.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Lead and Copper Rule, recorded in 8 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 7 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 94 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%).

Pell City, City Of's 62 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

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

Population Served
17,586
Total Violations
62
Health-Based Violations
6
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
5,862
County
St. Clair
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
6
Monitoring Violations
50
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Lead and Copper Rule MR 8 2018
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 1996
Arsenic MR 3 2005
Barium MR 3 2005
Cadmium MR 3 2005
CYANIDE MR 3 2005
Fluoride MR 3 2005
Mercury MR 3 2005
Nickel MR 3 2005
Thallium, Total MR 3 2005
Selenium MR 3 2005
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 1991
Nitrite MR 3 2005
Chromium MR 3 2005
Beryllium, Total MR 3 2005
Antimony, Total MR 3 2005

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 18 of 290 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFMPA 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/19/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/19/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/19/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/19/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/19/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/19/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/19/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/19/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/19/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/19/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/19/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/19/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/19/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/19/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/19/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Pell City, 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 AL0001204 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
2018 Lead and Copper Rule MR 8 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 5000
2005 Arsenic MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1005
2005 Barium MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1010
2005 Cadmium MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1015
2005 CYANIDE MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1024
2005 Fluoride MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1025
2005 Mercury MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1035
2005 Nickel MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1036
2005 Thallium, Total MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1085
2005 Selenium MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1045
2005 Nitrite MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1041
2005 Chromium MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1020
2005 Beryllium, Total MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1075
2005 Antimony, Total MR 3 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 1074
1996 Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 SDWIS / AL0001204 / 3100

How Pell City, City Of Compares

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

Metric Pell City, City Of Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 62 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 6 6.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 7 compounds 51.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 17,586 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 Pell City, City Of water safe to drink?
Pell City, City Of (PWS ID: AL0001204) has 62 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 17,586 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Pell City, City Of serve?
Pell City, City Of serves 17,586 people in Pell City, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 5,862 service connections.
What type of violations does Pell City, City Of have?
Pell City, City Of has 62 total violations: 6 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 50 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Pell City, City Of water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Pell City, City Of's water supply: PFBS, PFHxA, PFOA, PFOS, PFHpA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Pell City, City Of use?
Pell City, 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.