WaterVerge

Is Thomaston, AL Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 2 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

960 residents served 1 water system PWSID: AL0000919
Overall Score
90.6 / 100
Violations
2 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#93 of 353 in Alabama Top 14% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
90.6/100
waterverge.com
A 90.6/100

Thomaston, AL — Water Quality Report

Thomaston's drinking water received a grade of A (90.6 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 960 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 9 violations on record, including 7 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Thomaston's water

Thomaston ranks #93 out of 353 cities in Alabama for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state.

Thomaston 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, Thomaston may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
90.6 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
43.6/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 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 Thomaston, AL water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Thomaston's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (90.6/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 960 residents using groundwater (wells).

2
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
10 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Thomaston

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Thomaston's water quality assessment. Grade: A (90.6/100).

Disaster
HURRICANE HELENE

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

Disaster
HURRICANE ZETA

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4573). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

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

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Fluoride.

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Thomaston's water system has 9 total violations on record, including 7 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

MCLMR
Most recent violations:
Jun 2000 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jan 1995 Lead and Copper Rule Open
Aug 1985 Fluoride Resolved
Jun 1985 Fluoride Resolved
Mar 1985 Fluoride Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Marengo 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 ZETA
Hurricane FEMA DR-4573
HURRICANE SALLY
Hurricane FEMA DR-3545

Where does Thomaston's water come from?

Thomaston's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 960 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Thomaston 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

Thomaston'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
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

9
Total violations
7
Health-based
2
Active / unresolved
Jun 2000
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

9 Total
2 Active
7 Health-based
7 Resolved
Violations by category
Inorganic Chemicals
6
Total Coliform Rule
1
Lead and Copper Rule
1
Jan 1995 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jun 2000 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2000
Aug 1985 Resolved
Fluoride
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 1985
Jun 1985 Resolved
Fluoride
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 1985
Mar 1985 Resolved
Fluoride
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Aug 1992
Dec 1984 Resolved
Fluoride
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Feb 1992
Sep 1984 Resolved
Fluoride
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Aug 1985
Sep 1980 Resolved
Fluoride
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 1981
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D3 — extreme drought

Marengo 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)
22.9%
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

Marengo 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
Dec 2020
HURRICANE ZETA
Hurricane FEMA #4573
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

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 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 5.0 ppb from 1993 (5.0 ppb) to 2023 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
960
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Thomaston's water comes from

Groundwater

Thomaston'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 960 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Thomaston

System Name PWSID Population Source
THOMASTON WATER WORKS & GAS BOARD AL0000919 960 GW
Regional Comparison

How Thomaston compares

Full Alabama rankings →

Thomaston's score of 90.6/100 is above the average of 78/100 among major Alabama cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Thomaston (this city)
90.6
Birmingham
89.2
Huntsville
69.8
Montgomery
88.7
Mobile
87.9
Tuscaloosa
87.6
Alabama avg
78
City Profile

About Thomaston, AL

Wikipedia →

Thomaston is a town in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census the population was 326, down from 417 at the 2010 census.

Economic Profile
$86,250
Median Income
$1,083/mo
Median Rent
4.4%
Unemployment
Community
43.3
Median Age
72
People / sq mi
20.3%
College Educated
80.3%
Homeownership
Share this reportHelp others learn about their water quality
WhatsAppXFacebookLinkedInEmail

Frequently asked questions

Is Thomaston, AL tap water safe to drink?

Thomaston's water quality earned a grade of A (90.6/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #93 out of 353 cities tested in Alabama.

What contaminants are in Thomaston's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 9 violations are on record.

How is Thomaston'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 Thomaston?

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

Where does Thomaston's water come from?

Thomaston's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 960 residents.

What health violations has Thomaston's water system had?

Thomaston has 7 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in June 2000. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.

Is Thomaston's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Thomaston 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 9 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 Thomaston's water compare to other cities?

Thomaston ranks #93 out of 353 cities in Alabama (better than 74% of state cities) and #2138 out of 15744 cities nationally (86th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Thomaston's small water system affect quality?

Thomaston's system serves approximately 960 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 9 violations on record.