Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Alabama Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

131

Cities Tested

131

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

2.1 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

250

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Alabama: what the data shows

Alabama has 131 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 131 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Alabama

100%

131 of 131 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Alabama

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Alabama

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Alabama cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Robertsdale	8 violations	Yes	1	D+
2	Greensboro	8 violations	Yes	1	D
3	Autaugaville	8 violations	Yes	0	B+
4	Cleveland	6 violations	Yes	5	B
5	Camden	6 violations	Yes	8	B
6	East Brewton	6 violations	Yes	2	B
7	Leighton	6 violations	Yes	3	B
8	Millry	6 violations	Yes	3	A
9	Mt. Vernon	6 violations	Yes	3	B
10	Athens	5 violations	Yes	7	B
11	Talladega	5 violations	Yes	5	C
12	Fort Payne	4 violations	Yes	3	C+
13	Hayneville	4 violations	Yes	3	B+
14	Chatom	4 violations	Yes	1	C+
15	Red Bay	4 violations	Yes	1	B+
16	York	4 violations	Yes	26	A-
17	Woodland	4 violations	Yes	6	B+
18	White Hall	4 violations	Yes	3	A-
19	Phenix City	3 violations	Yes	4	C+
20	Columbiana	3 violations	Yes	2	B
21	Daphne	3 violations	Yes	9	D
22	Theodore	3 violations	Yes	5	C
23	Tuscumbia	3 violations	Yes	11	D+
24	Tuskegee	3 violations	Yes	30	F
25	Grand Bay	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
26	Guin	3 violations	Yes	16	C-
27	Hartford	3 violations	Yes	1	C-
28	Addison	3 violations	Yes	1	A
29	Frisco City	3 violations	Yes	1	B+
30	Ramer	3 violations	Yes	0	A
31	Louisville	3 violations	Yes	0	D+
32	Forkland	3 violations	Yes	2	A-
33	Cullman	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
34	Decatur	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
35	Dothan	2 violations	Yes	1	B
36	Gadsden	2 violations	Yes	18	C+
37	Madison	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
38	Enterprise	2 violations	Yes	5	B
39	Rainsville	2 violations	Yes	3	B
40	Albertville	2 violations	Yes	0	B
41	Smiths	2 violations	Yes	0	B+
42	Andalusia	2 violations	Yes	3	C+
43	Atmore	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
44	Abbeville	2 violations	Yes	2	D+
45	Heflin	2 violations	Yes	5	D+
46	Hamilton	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
47	Centre	2 violations	Yes	2	B
48	Marion	2 violations	Yes	5	B+
49	Aliceville	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
50	Munford	2 violations	Yes	0	A
51	Ashford	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
52	Stevenson	2 violations	Yes	2	B
53	Luverne	2 violations	Yes	2	B
54	Uniontown	2 violations	Yes	1	A
55	Uriah	2 violations	Yes	1	C+
56	Goodwater	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
57	Flomaton	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
58	Reform	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
59	Crossville	2 violations	Yes	1	A
60	Dickinson	2 violations	Yes	45	D
61	Sycamore	2 violations	Yes	1	A
62	Jack	2 violations	Yes	1	A
63	Castleberry	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
64	River Falls	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
65	Rutledge	2 violations	Yes	1	A
66	Montgomery	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
67	Auburn	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
68	Fairhope	1 violations	Yes	1	B
69	Opelika	1 violations	Yes	8	B
70	Prattville	1 violations	Yes	7	F
71	Citronelle	1 violations	Yes	2	D
72	Selma	1 violations	Yes	6	D+
73	Ozark	1 violations	Yes	1	B
74	Odenville	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
75	Muscle Shoals	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
76	Hartselle	1 violations	Yes	6	A
77	Pell City	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
78	Oneonta	1 violations	Yes	3	A
79	Eufaula	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
80	Attalla	1 violations	Yes	8	B
81	Orange Beach	1 violations	Yes	1	C-
82	Millbrook	1 violations	Yes	0	B-
83	Dadeville	1 violations	Yes	5	B
84	Douglas	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
85	Carrollton	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
86	Jacksonville	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
87	Evergreen	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
88	Elberta	1 violations	Yes	5	A
89	Demopolis	1 violations	Yes	6	B+
90	Spanish Fort	1 violations	Yes	0	C+
91	Vernon	1 violations	Yes	4	A
92	Childersburg	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
93	Geneva	1 violations	Yes	0	A
94	Gilbertown	1 violations	Yes	8	D+
95	Ashville	1 violations	Yes	3	A
96	Brent	1 violations	Yes	1	A+
97	Weaver	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
98	Glencoe	1 violations	Yes	0	A+
99	Eight Mile	1 violations	Yes	0	B
100	Dauphin Island	1 violations	Yes	13	A
101	Hokes Bluff	1 violations	Yes	0	A+
102	Grove Hill	1 violations	Yes	1	B
103	Coker	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
104	Wattsville	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
105	Berry	1 violations	Yes	5	A
106	Moundville	1 violations	Yes	1	A
107	Clayton	1 violations	Yes	6	B-
108	Lafayette	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
109	Axis	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
110	Brundidge	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
111	Excel	1 violations	Yes	2	B
112	Lisman	1 violations	Yes	5	D+
113	Midland City	1 violations	Yes	0	B-
114	Mcintosh	1 violations	Yes	0	A
115	Vincent	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
116	Sulligent	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
117	Harpersville	1 violations	Yes	0	A
118	Silverhill	1 violations	Yes	0	A
119	Cherokee	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
120	Pennington	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
121	Millers Ferry	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
122	Webb	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
123	Huxford	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
124	Raleigh	1 violations	Yes	8	D+
125	Millport	1 violations	Yes	0	A
126	Pinckard	1 violations	Yes	0	A
127	Vina	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
128	Banks	1 violations	Yes	3	A
129	Hurtsboro	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
130	Goshen	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
131	Repton	1 violations	Yes	3	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Alabama

Is nitrate in Alabama tap water dangerous?

Yes — 131 cities in Alabama have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Alabama water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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