WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
PWS ID: AL0001784 · CHATOM, Alabama 36518
WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY serves 2,445 people in CHATOM, Alabama using Groundwater water sources. It has 21 recorded EPA violations, including 0 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.
Water Quality Snapshot: WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY
WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 2,445 residents in CHATOM, Alabama (Washington County) through 815 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 21 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 21 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 13 violations (MR). This system has not yet been sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, so no PFAS detection data is available here.
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. WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY's 21 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.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 815
- County
- Washington
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 0
- Monitoring Violations
- 21
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 13 | 2013 |
| TTHM | MR | 2 | 2021 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 2 | 2021 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 2 | 2012 |
| Nitrate | MR | 2 | 2003 |
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 WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY.
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 AL0001784 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
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 SDWISViolation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | TTHM | MR | 2 | SDWIS / AL0001784 / 2950 |
| 2021 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 2 | SDWIS / AL0001784 / 2456 |
| 2013 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 13 | SDWIS / AL0001784 / 3100 |
| 2012 | Lead and Copper Rule | MR | 2 | SDWIS / AL0001784 / 5000 |
| 2003 | Nitrate | MR | 2 | SDWIS / AL0001784 / 1040 |
How WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | WASHINGTON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY | Alabama avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 21 | 72 | SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 0 | 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 | 2,445 | 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
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Related Data for Alabama
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.