Is Athens, AL tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority. 7 PFAS were detected below the limits.
2 public water systems serve parts of Athens. The largest, Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority, serves 90,900 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority
90,900 people · Surface water · EPA ID AL0000833
Buys treated water from Madison County Water Department, Huntsville Utilities Water Dept., Athens Utilities, Decatur Municipal Utilities Board.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 0 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS One sample above limit | 0 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Detected, below limit | 0 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 0.92 ppb at the 90th percentile (Nov 2026, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Alabama, 56 of 307 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 0 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Alabama results.
Athens homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Athens city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Athens
- Athens Utilities43,431 people · Surface water · Alabama · lists this cityNo PFAS above limitsAlso: 1 health-based violation since 2016
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Madison 12 mi Madison W & Water Works Board | None above limits | 0.55 ppb |
| Decatur 14 mi Decatur Municipal Utilities Board | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Huntsville 24 mi Huntsville Utilities Water Dept. | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Florence 41 mi City of Florence Water Department | Above limit | 3.4 ppb |
| Gadsden 75 mi Gadsden Water Works & Sewer Board | Above limit | 2.5 ppb |
| Trussville 81 mi Trussville Utilities Board | None above limits | 0 ppb |
Athens ZIP codes (1)
- 35613
Questions
Is Athens tap water safe to drink?
Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Athens, AL?
2 public water systems serve parts of Athens. The largest is Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority (90,900 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Athens tap water have PFAS?
Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority had 7 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Athens homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 38% of Athens homes as built before 1980 (Alabama: 42%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.