WaterVerge

Is Cuba, AL Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

570 residents served 1 water system PWSID: AL0001217
Overall Score
93.9 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased ground water
#37 of 353 in Alabama Top 5% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
93.9/100
waterverge.com
A 93.9/100

Cuba, AL — Water Quality Report

Cuba's drinking water received a grade of A (93.9 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 570 residents using purchased ground water.

Lead levels were measured at 1.8 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 8 violations on record, including 5 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Cuba's water

Cuba ranks #37 out of 353 cities in Alabama for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Cuba purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition.

As a small community water system, Cuba may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
93.9 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
43.9/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 1.8 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Purchased ground water.
Water Safety

Is Cuba, AL water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Cuba's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (93.9/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 570 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
1.8 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
10 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Cuba

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Cuba's water quality assessment. Grade: A (93.9/100).

Disaster
HURRICANE HELENE

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3618). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
HURRICANE SALLY

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3545). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Cuba's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 1.8 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Cuba's water system has 8 total violations on record, including 5 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved.

MRMCL
Most recent violations:
Jul 2006 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Oct 2004 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Aug 2003 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Feb 2002 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jan 2002 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Sumter County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2004. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

HURRICANE HELENE
Hurricane FEMA DR-3618
HURRICANE SALLY
Hurricane FEMA DR-3545
HURRICANE NATE
Hurricane FEMA DR-3394

Where does Cuba's water come from?

Cuba's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 570 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Cuba residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

Cuba's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
1.8 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 12% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

8
Total violations
5
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Jul 2006
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

8 Total
1 Active
5 Health-based
7 Resolved
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jul 2006 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 2006
Oct 2004 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Oct 2004
Aug 2003 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Aug 2003
Feb 2002 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Feb 2002
Jan 2002 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jan 2002
Jul 1995 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jul 1995
Mar 1992 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 1992
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D3 — extreme drought

Sumter County is currently in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

14
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
18.4%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
14
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

10
Declared disasters
Sep 2024
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Sumter County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2004. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Sep 2024
HURRICANE HELENE
Hurricane FEMA #3618
Sep 2020
HURRICANE SALLY
Hurricane FEMA #3545
Oct 2017
HURRICANE NATE
Hurricane FEMA #3394
Sep 2017
HURRICANE IRMA
Hurricane FEMA #3389
Aug 2008
HURRICANE GUSTAV
Hurricane FEMA #3292
Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3237

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 1.8 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 3.2 ppb from 1993 (5.0 ppb) to 2023 (1.8 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
570
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Cuba's water comes from

Purchased Groundwater

Cuba purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.

Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Cuba's local distribution pipes and storage facilities.

Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 570 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Cuba

System Name PWSID Population Source
CUBA WATER BOARD AL0001217 570 GWP
Regional Comparison

How Cuba compares

Full Alabama rankings →

Cuba's score of 93.9/100 is above the average of 78/100 among major Alabama cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Cuba (this city)
93.9
Birmingham
89.2
Huntsville
69.8
Montgomery
88.7
Mobile
87.9
Tuscaloosa
87.6
Alabama avg
78
City Profile

About Cuba, AL

Wikipedia →

Cuba is a town in Sumter County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 306, down from 346 in 2010.

Economic Profile
$73,333
Median Income
$160,601
Median Home Value
$918/mo
Median Rent
1.4%
Unemployment
Community
54.9
Median Age
31
People / sq mi
37.6%
College Educated
82.7%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Cuba, AL tap water safe to drink?

Cuba's water quality earned a grade of A (93.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #37 out of 353 cities tested in Alabama.

What contaminants are in Cuba's water?

Lead was measured at 1.8 ppb (90th percentile). 8 violations are on record.

How is Cuba's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Cuba?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Cuba's water come from?

Cuba's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 570 residents.

What health violations has Cuba's water system had?

Cuba has 5 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2006. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 1 violation remains unresolved.

Is Cuba's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Cuba uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 8 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Cuba's water compare to other cities?

Cuba ranks #37 out of 353 cities in Alabama (better than 90% of state cities) and #691 out of 15744 cities nationally (96th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Cuba's small water system affect quality?

Cuba's system serves approximately 570 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 8 violations on record.