Alabama PFAS results from EPA's final data
Report published Nov 14, 2026 · EPA UCMR 5 final data file of Oct 15, 2026 (samples collected 2023–2025) · Method · National results →
56 Alabama water systems serving 1.4 million people had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit in EPA's final round of nationwide PFAS testing: 18% of the 307 Alabama systems tested, compared with 11% nationally.
Highest PFOA or PFOS averages in Alabama
- Irondale Water System Irondale · PFOS37.5 ppt
- Grand Bay Water Works Board Grand Bay · PFOA30.7 ppt
- Gadsden Water Works & Sewer Board Gadsden · PFOA23.4 ppt
- Shelby County Commission-Water Services Columbiana · PFOA23 ppt
- Clanton Water Works & Sewer Board Clanton · PFOS21.5 ppt
- Sterrett-Vandiver Water System, Inc. Sterrett · PFOS19.2 ppt
- Colbert County Rural Water System Tuscumbia · PFOS18.3 ppt
- Wetumpka Water Works & Sewer Board Wetumpka · PFOS17.2 ppt
- Grove Hill Water Works Grove Hill · PFOS17 ppt
- Tri Community Water System Millbrook · PFOA16.5 ppt
- Marbury Water System, Inc. Marbury · PFOS16 ppt
- Collinsville Water Works Collinsville · PFOA15.9 ppt
- Greenhill Water & Fire Protection Authority Florence · PFOS15.2 ppt
- Holtville Water System Deatsville · PFOS15.2 ppt
- Loachapoka Water Authority Loachapoka · PFOA15 ppt
Chart data as a table
| System | ppt |
|---|---|
| Irondale Water System · Irondale · PFOS | 37.5 |
| Grand Bay Water Works Board · Grand Bay · PFOA | 30.7 |
| Gadsden Water Works & Sewer Board · Gadsden · PFOA | 23.4 |
| Shelby County Commission-Water Services · Columbiana · PFOA | 23 |
| Clanton Water Works & Sewer Board · Clanton · PFOS | 21.5 |
| Sterrett-Vandiver Water System, Inc. · Sterrett · PFOS | 19.2 |
| Colbert County Rural Water System · Tuscumbia · PFOS | 18.3 |
| Wetumpka Water Works & Sewer Board · Wetumpka · PFOS | 17.2 |
| Grove Hill Water Works · Grove Hill · PFOS | 17 |
| Tri Community Water System · Millbrook · PFOA | 16.5 |
| Marbury Water System, Inc. · Marbury · PFOS | 16 |
| Collinsville Water Works · Collinsville · PFOA | 15.9 |
| Greenhill Water & Fire Protection Authority · Florence · PFOS | 15.2 |
| Holtville Water System · Deatsville · PFOS | 15.2 |
| Loachapoka Water Authority · Loachapoka · PFOA | 15 |
Largest systems above a limit
| # | System | People served |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville Utilities Water Dept. Huntsville Above: PFOS | 310,107 |
| 2 | City of Florence Water Department Florence Above: PFOA, PFOS | 77,766 |
| 3 | Auburn Water Works Board Auburn Above: PFOA | 74,292 |
| 4 | City of Fairhope Fairhope Above: PFOA, PFOS | 59,850 |
| 5 | Opelika Water Works Board Opelika Above: PFOA, PFOS | 56,520 |
| 6 | Harvest-Monrovia Water, Sewer & Fire Protection, Inc. Harvest Above: PFOA | 51,915 |
| 7 | Northeast Alabama Water Sewer and Fire Protection District Fort Payne Above: PFOA | 47,070 |
| 8 | Prattville Water Works Board Prattville Above: PFOA, PFOS | 46,614 |
| 9 | Gadsden Water Works & Sewer Board Gadsden Above: PFOA, PFOS | 44,637 |
| 10 | City of Alabaster Water Department Alabaster Above: PFOA, PFOS | 40,986 |
All 56 Alabama systems above a limit
Every Alabama community water system whose UCMR 5 results averaged above a 2024 federal PFAS limit, largest first. Systems that were not tested are not listed: not tested is not the same as not detected.
Full list: 56 systems, largest first
The same list, with PFOA and PFOS averages, is in the data download.
Which limits were exceeded
| PFAS | Federal limit | Systems above it |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA 932,388 people | 4 ppt | 45 |
| PFOS 1.1 million people | 4 ppt | 47 |
| PFHxS | 10 ppt | 0 |
| PFNA | 10 ppt | 0 |
| GenX (HFPO-DA) | 10 ppt | 0 |
| Hazard Index | 1 | 0 |
"–" in the table above means not detected. A system can be above more than one limit. EPA proposed in May 2026 to rescind the PFHxS, PFNA, GenX and Hazard Index limits. That proposal is not final.
Data and how to cite it
- Download every Alabama water system as CSV (PFOA and PFOS averages, systems above a limit, lead, violations).
- EPA's source file: UCMR 5 occurrence data.
Suggested citation:
Tap Water Results, "Alabama PFAS results from EPA's final UCMR 5 data" (published Nov 14, 2026, EPA data file of Oct 15, 2026). https://tapwaterresults.com/pfas/alabama/
You're welcome to quote and republish these figures with a link back. Questions from reporters: see contact.
Method
For each system we average each entry point's UCMR 5 results (non-detects count as zero, complete sets of samples only) and compare the highest entry-point average with the 2024 federal limit, using EPA's rounding. This is how EPA compares UCMR 5 results to the limits in its own data summary, and our national counts match EPA's published table within 2% (how we check). Results are monitoring data from 2023–2025, not compliance determinations, and treatment installed since then is not reflected. Full method.
Questions
How many Alabama water systems have PFAS above the limit?
56 of the 307 Alabama community water systems EPA tested in 2023–2025 (18%) had at least one entry-point average above a 2024 federal PFAS limit. They serve 1.4 million people. Nationally the share is 11%.
Are these systems violating the law?
Not yet. Systems have until 2029 to meet the 2024 limits, and EPA has proposed moving the PFOA and PFOS deadline to 2031 and rescinding the other limits. EPA's UCMR 5 results are monitoring data and do not determine compliance.
Which systems were tested?
EPA's UCMR 5 tested every community water system serving more than 3,300 people and a representative sample of smaller ones. Systems that were not tested have no federal result, which is not the same as having no PFAS.
All Alabama water systems → · National results → · PFAS results for every state →
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.