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Community Water System · PWS AL0001426

Southwest Alabama Water Authority

Peterman, Alabama 36471 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 5,196 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

5,196
People served
55
EPA violations
4
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 55 drinking-water violations at Southwest Alabama Water Authority, 7% of them health-based - below the Alabama per-system average.

55
Total EPA violations on record
7%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
5,196
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Southwest Alabama Water Authority

Southwest Alabama Water Authority is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 5,196 residents in Peterman, Alabama (Monroe County) through 1,732 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 55 total violations for this system , of which 4 (7%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 48 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 9 violations (MR). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

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%).

Southwest Alabama Water Authority's 55 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.

Population Served
5,196
Total Violations
55
Health-Based Violations
4
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,732
County
Monroe
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
4
Monitoring Violations
48
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MR 9 2007
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 2008
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 2021
Dalapon MR 2 2020
Picloram MR 2 2020
2,4,5-TP MR 2 2020
Dinoseb MR 2 2020
2,4-D MR 2 2020
Pentachlorophenol MR 2 2020
Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 2024
Endrin MR 1 2020
BHC-GAMMA MR 1 2020
Toxaphene MR 1 2020
Endothall MR 1 2020
OXAMYL MR 1 2020
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 2020
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 2020
Carbofuran MR 1 2020
LASSO MR 1 2020
Heptachlor MR 1 2020
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 2020
Chlordane MR 1 2020
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 2020
1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE MR 1 2020
Simazine MR 1 2020
Glyphosate MR 1 2020
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 1 2020
Atrazine MR 1 2020
Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 2020
Diquat MR 1 2020

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFBS 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/12/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/12/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/12/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/12/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/12/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/12/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/12/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/12/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/12/2024 <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 Southwest Alabama 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 AL0001426 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule RPT 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 8000
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 5000
2020 Dalapon MR 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2031
2020 Picloram MR 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2040
2020 2,4,5-TP MR 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2110
2020 Dinoseb MR 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2041
2020 2,4-D MR 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2105
2020 Pentachlorophenol MR 2 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2326
2020 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2005
2020 BHC-GAMMA MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2010
2020 Toxaphene MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2020
2020 Endothall MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2033
2020 OXAMYL MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2036
2020 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2039
2020 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 SDWIS / AL0001426 / 2042

How Southwest Alabama Water Authority Compares

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

Metric Southwest Alabama Water Authority Alabama avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 55 72 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 4 6.7 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 51.3% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 5,196 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 Southwest Alabama Water Authority water safe to drink? ▼
Southwest Alabama Water Authority (PWS ID: AL0001426) has 55 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 5,196 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Southwest Alabama Water Authority serve? ▼
Southwest Alabama Water Authority serves 5,196 people in Peterman, Alabama. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,732 service connections.
What type of violations does Southwest Alabama Water Authority have? ▼
Southwest Alabama Water Authority has 55 total violations: 4 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 48 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Southwest Alabama Water Authority water? ▼
No. Southwest Alabama Water Authority was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Southwest Alabama Water Authority use? ▼
Southwest Alabama Water Authority 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.