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Community Water System · PWS AL0001422

Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd

Fort Payne, Alabama 35968 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 47,070 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

47,070
People served
398
EPA violations
2
Health-based
7 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 398 drinking-water violations at Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd, 1% of them health-based - above the Alabama per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds.

398
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
47,070
People served by this system
7
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd

Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 47,070 residents in Fort Payne, Alabama (DeKalb County) through 15,690 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 398 total violations for this system , of which 2 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 384 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 Xylenes, Total, recorded in 11 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 11.9 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%).

Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd's 398 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

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

Population Served
47,070
Total Violations
398
Health-Based Violations
2
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
15,690
County
DeKalb
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
2
Monitoring Violations
384
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Xylenes, Total MR 11 2012
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 11 2012
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 2012
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 11 2012
Vinyl chloride MR 11 2012
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2012
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2012
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 11 2012
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 11 2012
Benzene MR 11 2012
Ethylbenzene MR 11 2012
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 11 2012
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 11 2012
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 11 2012
Carbon tetrachloride MR 11 2012
Trichloroethylene MR 11 2012
Tetrachloroethylene MR 11 2012
Toluene MR 11 2012
Styrene MR 11 2012
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 11 2012
CHLOROBENZENE MR 11 2012
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 8 2020
Nitrite MR 6 2022
CARBON, TOTAL MR 6 2023
Fluoride MR 4 2022
BHC-GAMMA MR 4 2020
Methoxychlor MR 4 2020
Toxaphene MR 4 2020
Dalapon MR 4 2020
Endothall MR 4 2020

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 29 of 638 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 8/26/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/26/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/26/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/26/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/26/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/26/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/26/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/26/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/26/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/26/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/26/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/26/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/26/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/26/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/26/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/26/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/26/2024 <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 Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd.

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 AL0001422 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 CARBON, TOTAL MR 6 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 2920
2022 Nitrite MR 6 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1041
2022 Fluoride MR 4 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1025
2022 Nitrate MR 4 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1040
2022 Arsenic MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1005
2022 Barium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1010
2022 Cadmium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1015
2022 Chromium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1020
2022 CYANIDE MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1024
2022 Antimony, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1074
2022 Beryllium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1075
2022 Thallium, Total MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1085
2022 Mercury MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1035
2022 Selenium MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1045
2022 Nickel MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001422 / 1036

How Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd Compares

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

Metric Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 398 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 2 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 47,070 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 Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd water safe to drink?
Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd (PWS ID: AL0001422) has 398 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 7 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 47,070 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd serve?
Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd serves 47,070 people in Fort Payne, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 15,690 service connections.
What type of violations does Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd have?
Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd has 398 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 384 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 7 PFAS compounds in Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd's water supply: PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS, PFOA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd use?
Northeast Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fpd 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.