WaterVerge

Is Lockhart, 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 ↓

720 residents served 1 water system PWSID: AL0000372
Overall Score
91.6 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#69 of 353 in Alabama Top 10% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
91.6/100
waterverge.com
A 91.6/100

Lockhart, AL — Water Quality Report

Lockhart's drinking water received a grade of A (91.6 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 720 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.3 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 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

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

What to know about Lockhart's water

Lockhart ranks #69 out of 353 cities in Alabama for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Lockhart relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

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

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
91.6 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.6/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.3 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
5/10
D
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Lockhart, AL water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Lockhart's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (91.6/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 720 residents using groundwater (wells).

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

Recent water quality updates for Lockhart

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Lockhart's water quality assessment. Grade: A (91.6/100).

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-4563). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.3 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Lockhart's water system has 3 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved.

MR
Most recent violations:
Sep 2010 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
May 1991 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Covington County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2005. 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-4563
HURRICANE SALLY
Hurricane FEMA DR-3545

Where does Lockhart's water come from?

Lockhart's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 720 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Lockhart 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

Lockhart'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
2.3 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 15% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

3
Total violations
0
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Sep 2010
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

3 Total
1 Active
0 Health-based
2 Resolved
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Sep 2010 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 2010
May 1991 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved May 1991
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D3 — extreme drought

Covington 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)
21.4%
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

Covington County has experienced 10 federally declared disasters since 2005. 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 #4563
Sep 2020
HURRICANE SALLY
Hurricane FEMA #3545
Oct 2018
HURRICANE MICHAEL
Hurricane FEMA #3407
Oct 2017
HURRICANE NATE
Hurricane FEMA #3394
Sep 2017
HURRICANE IRMA
Hurricane FEMA #3389

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.3 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 increased by 0.3 ppb from 1993 (2.0 ppb) to 2023 (2.3 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
720
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Lockhart's water comes from

Groundwater

Lockhart's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 720 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Lockhart

System Name PWSID Population Source
LOCKHART WATER WORKS AL0000372 720 GW
Regional Comparison

How Lockhart compares

Full Alabama rankings →

Lockhart's score of 91.6/100 is above the average of 78/100 among major Alabama cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Lockhart (this city)
91.6
Birmingham
89.2
Huntsville
69.8
Montgomery
88.7
Mobile
87.9
Tuscaloosa
87.6
Alabama avg
78
City Profile

About Lockhart, AL

Economic Profile
$33,250
Median Income
$665/mo
Median Rent
13.3%
Unemployment
Community
55.5
Median Age
111
People / sq mi
5.5%
College Educated
54.4%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Lockhart, AL tap water safe to drink?

Lockhart's water quality earned a grade of A (91.6/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #69 out of 353 cities tested in Alabama.

What contaminants are in Lockhart's water?

Lead was measured at 2.3 ppb (90th percentile). 3 violations are on record.

How is Lockhart'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 Lockhart?

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

Where does Lockhart's water come from?

Lockhart's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 720 residents.

Is Lockhart's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Lockhart 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 3 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 Lockhart's water compare to other cities?

Lockhart ranks #69 out of 353 cities in Alabama (better than 80% of state cities) and #1618 out of 15744 cities nationally (90th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Lockhart's small water system affect quality?

Lockhart's system serves approximately 720 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 3 violations on record.