PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Alabama Drinking Water

Ranked by number of PFAS compounds detected · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

232

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

27%

% Exceeds Limit

1.9 compounds

State Avg

▲ 6% vs national

vs National

250

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Alabama: what the data shows

Alabama has 232 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 126 of those cities (54%), with many cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is worse than the national average. 62 cities exceed the EPA MCL for at least one PFAS compound. PFAS are linked to cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues. The 2024 EPA rule requires water systems exceeding the MCL to notify customers and reduce levels by 2029. PFAS data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5), which required large water systems to test for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023–2025. Not all systems have completed testing — cities without data may still have PFAS present.

Comparison

Cities exceeding EPA MCL (4 ppt each)

Alabama

27%

62 of 232 cities

→ ▲ 6% above national rate (worse)

National avg

21%

1662 of 7853 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Alabama

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. PFAS-tested cities are shown; those exceeding the 4 ppt EPA MCL appear in red. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by pfas level in Alabama

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Alabama cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Alabaster	9 compounds	Yes	2	A-
2	Gadsden	8 compounds	Yes	18	C+
3	Columbiana	8 compounds	Yes	2	B
4	Daphne	8 compounds	Yes	9	D
5	Tuscumbia	8 compounds	Yes	11	D+
6	Rogersville	8 compounds	Yes	0	B+
7	Clanton	8 compounds	Yes	5	A-
8	Camden	8 compounds	Yes	8	B
9	Bessemer	7 compounds	Yes	3	B-
10	Athens	7 compounds	Yes	7	B
11	Fort Payne	7 compounds	Yes	3	C+
12	Prattville	7 compounds	Yes	7	F
13	Wetumpka	7 compounds	Yes	1	A-
14	Pelham	7 compounds	Yes	2	A-
15	Albertville	7 compounds	Yes	0	B
16	Pell City	7 compounds	Yes	3	B+
17	Helena	7 compounds	Yes	0	A
18	Boaz	7 compounds	Yes	4	B+
19	Attalla	7 compounds	Yes	8	B
20	Millbrook	7 compounds	Yes	0	B-
21	Guntersville	7 compounds	Yes	1	B+
22	Deatsville	7 compounds	Yes	4	B
23	Southside	7 compounds	Yes	0	B+
24	Linden	7 compounds	Yes	8	A-
25	Marbury	7 compounds	Yes	1	A-
26	Thomasville	7 compounds	Yes	28	B-
27	Grove Hill	7 compounds	Yes	1	B
28	Sterrett	7 compounds	Yes	3	B+
29	Pine Hill	7 compounds	Yes	1	B+
30	Huntsville	6 compounds	Yes	0	C+
31	Florence	6 compounds	Yes	7	D
32	Phenix City	6 compounds	Yes	4	C+
33	Valley	6 compounds	Yes	1	B
34	Talladega	6 compounds	Yes	5	C
35	Loachapoka	6 compounds	Yes	2	A-
36	Irondale	6 compounds	Yes	0	B+
37	Childersburg	6 compounds	Yes	0	A-
38	Centre	6 compounds	Yes	2	B
39	Birmingham	5 compounds	No	1	A-
40	Smiths	5 compounds	Yes	0	B+
41	Odenville	5 compounds	Yes	0	B+
42	Russellville	5 compounds	Yes	1	B+
43	Muscle Shoals	5 compounds	Yes	4	A-
44	Saraland	5 compounds	Yes	1	C-
45	Sheffield	5 compounds	Yes	2	B+
46	Montevallo	5 compounds	Yes	5	A-
47	Huguley	5 compounds	Yes	1	A
48	Springville	5 compounds	Yes	0	A-
49	Collinsville	5 compounds	Yes	0	A-
50	Opelika	4 compounds	Yes	8	B
51	Lanett	4 compounds	No	2	B+
52	Weaver	4 compounds	Yes	0	B+
53	Margaret	4 compounds	No	1	A-
54	Citronelle	3 compounds	No	2	D
55	Grand Bay	3 compounds	Yes	0	B+
56	Decatur	2 compounds	No	1	B+
57	Auburn	2 compounds	Yes	1	A-
58	Fairhope	2 compounds	Yes	1	B
59	Madison	2 compounds	No	0	B+
60	Redstone Arsenal	2 compounds	No	24	B
61	Scottsboro	2 compounds	No	11	C+
62	Troy	2 compounds	No	11	B
63	Rainsville	2 compounds	No	3	B
64	Arab	2 compounds	No	0	A+
65	Oxford	2 compounds	Yes	2	B+
66	Andalusia	2 compounds	No	3	C+
67	Bay Minette	2 compounds	Yes	1	D
68	Somerville	2 compounds	No	6	A
69	Hartselle	2 compounds	No	6	A
70	Tuskegee	2 compounds	Yes	30	F
71	Mt Hope	2 compounds	No	2	B+
72	Ider	2 compounds	No	22	D+
73	Moulton	2 compounds	No	3	A
74	Gilbertown	2 compounds	No	8	D+
75	Hanceville	2 compounds	No	2	A-
76	Triana	2 compounds	No	4	B
77	Bridgeport	2 compounds	No	0	A-
78	Joppa	2 compounds	No	0	A-
79	Eclectic	2 compounds	Yes	1	B+
80	Stevenson	2 compounds	Yes	2	B
81	Dothan	1 compounds	No	1	B
82	Enterprise	1 compounds	No	5	B
83	Theodore	1 compounds	No	5	C
84	Selma	1 compounds	No	6	D+
85	Thorsby	1 compounds	No	0	A
86	Cleveland	1 compounds	No	5	B
87	Greenville	1 compounds	No	13	C+
88	Brewton	1 compounds	No	4	D
89	Grant	1 compounds	No	3	A-
90	Vinemont	1 compounds	No	1	A
91	Jackson	1 compounds	Yes	2	A-
92	Carrollton	1 compounds	No	4	B-
93	Livingston	1 compounds	No	6	A-
94	Greensboro	1 compounds	No	1	D
95	Jacksonville	1 compounds	No	4	A-
96	Lincoln	1 compounds	No	4	A-
97	Daleville	1 compounds	No	3	B
98	Evergreen	1 compounds	No	3	B-
99	Union Springs	1 compounds	Yes	5	A
100	Demopolis	1 compounds	No	6	B+
101	New Brockton	1 compounds	No	7	C+
102	St Elmo	1 compounds	No	1	A-
103	Opp	1 compounds	No	2	A-
104	Spanish Fort	1 compounds	No	0	C+
105	Monroeville	1 compounds	No	1	A
106	Vernon	1 compounds	No	4	A
107	Geneva	1 compounds	No	0	A
108	Taylor	1 compounds	No	0	A-
109	Eutaw	1 compounds	No	8	B
110	Highland Home	1 compounds	No	0	A
111	Brantley	1 compounds	No	2	B+
112	Tallassee	1 compounds	Yes	1	A-
113	Bakerhill	1 compounds	No	4	A
114	New Hope	1 compounds	No	2	A
115	Mulga	1 compounds	No	3	B
116	Snead	1 compounds	No	3	A-
117	Elba	1 compounds	No	4	C+
118	Peterman	1 compounds	No	2	C
119	Coker	1 compounds	No	0	A-
120	Butler	1 compounds	No	8	B+
121	Friendship	1 compounds	Yes	1	A-
122	Myrtlewood	1 compounds	No	2	A
123	Lafayette	1 compounds	No	5	A-
124	East Brewton	1 compounds	No	2	B
125	Lisman	1 compounds	No	5	D+
126	York	1 compounds	No	26	A-
127	Montgomery	0 compounds	No	1	A-
128	Mobile	0 compounds	No	2	A-
129	Tuscaloosa	0 compounds	No	3	A-
130	Cullman	0 compounds	No	3	B+
131	Northport	0 compounds	No	3	A-
132	Anniston	0 compounds	No	0	A+
133	Jasper	0 compounds	No	9	B+
134	Foley	0 compounds	No	4	B
135	Gulf Shores	0 compounds	No	1	A
136	Trussville	0 compounds	No	0	A-
137	Alexandria	0 compounds	No	1	A+
138	Alexander City	0 compounds	No	6	B+
139	Sylacauga	0 compounds	No	2	A-
140	Prichard	0 compounds	No	13	C+
141	Ozark	0 compounds	No	1	B
142	Calera	0 compounds	No	0	A
143	Piedmont	0 compounds	No	2	A
144	Atmore	0 compounds	No	2	B-
145	Leeds	0 compounds	No	3	A-
146	Oneonta	0 compounds	No	3	A
147	Eufaula	0 compounds	No	9	A-
148	Robertsdale	0 compounds	No	1	D+
149	Roanoke	0 compounds	No	5	A
150	Orange Beach	0 compounds	No	1	C-
151	Dadeville	0 compounds	No	5	B
152	Ft. Rucker	0 compounds	No	1	A+
153	Douglas	0 compounds	No	1	A-
154	Abbeville	0 compounds	No	2	D+
155	Brookwood	0 compounds	No	3	A
156	Elmore	0 compounds	No	1	A-
157	Ft Mitchell	0 compounds	No	0	A+
158	Elberta	0 compounds	No	5	A
159	Heflin	0 compounds	No	5	D+
160	Fayette	0 compounds	No	0	A+
161	Rainbow City	0 compounds	No	1	A
162	Haleyville	0 compounds	No	2	A-
163	Owens Cross Roads	0 compounds	No	0	A-
164	Hamilton	0 compounds	No	2	A-
165	Loxley	0 compounds	No	0	A+
166	Graysville	0 compounds	No	1	A+
167	Guin	0 compounds	No	16	C-
168	Arley - 3600	0 compounds	No	2	A-
169	Green Pond	0 compounds	No	0	C-
170	Winfield	0 compounds	No	5	A-
171	Hayneville	0 compounds	No	3	B+
172	Bayou La Batre	0 compounds	No	0	B+
173	Ashville	0 compounds	No	3	A
174	Wedowee	0 compounds	No	5	A-
175	Phil Campbell	0 compounds	No	1	A
176	Sardis	0 compounds	No	0	A
177	Satsuma	0 compounds	No	0	C+
178	Marion	0 compounds	No	5	B+
179	Cropwell	0 compounds	No	0	A-
180	Jacksons Gap	0 compounds	No	0	B+
181	Wilsonville	0 compounds	No	1	A-
182	Brent	0 compounds	No	1	A+
183	Autaugaville	0 compounds	No	0	B+
184	Glencoe	0 compounds	No	0	A+
185	Eight Mile	0 compounds	No	0	B
186	Locust Fork	0 compounds	No	0	A
187	Double Springs	0 compounds	No	7	A-
188	Red Bay	0 compounds	No	1	B+
189	Ralph	0 compounds	No	0	A
190	Headland	0 compounds	No	0	A-
191	Sumiton	0 compounds	No	6	A
192	Centreville	0 compounds	No	0	A+
193	Tallapoosa County	0 compounds	No	1	A+
194	Fayetteville	0 compounds	No	0	A
195	Dauphin Island	0 compounds	No	13	A
196	Parrish	0 compounds	No	2	A
197	Aliceville	0 compounds	No	1	B-
198	Hokes Bluff	0 compounds	No	0	A+
199	Hope Hull	0 compounds	No	6	A
200	Wattsville	0 compounds	No	0	A-
201	Riverside	0 compounds	No	1	A
202	Oakman	0 compounds	No	11	A
203	Berry	0 compounds	No	5	A
204	Cedar Bluff	0 compounds	No	1	A
205	West Blocton	0 compounds	No	2	A+
206	Munford	0 compounds	No	0	A
207	Moundville	0 compounds	No	1	A
208	Jemison	0 compounds	No	2	A+
209	Ashford	0 compounds	No	0	A-
210	Blountsville	0 compounds	No	1	A-
211	Hartford	0 compounds	No	1	C-
212	Samson	0 compounds	No	0	A
213	Dora	0 compounds	No	0	A-
214	Luverne	0 compounds	No	2	B
215	Cordova	0 compounds	No	0	A-
216	Axis	0 compounds	No	0	B+
217	Coaling	0 compounds	No	0	A-
218	Brundidge	0 compounds	No	1	B+
219	Slocomb	0 compounds	No	0	B
220	Buhl	0 compounds	No	1	A+
221	Alpine	0 compounds	No	1	B+
222	Gordo	0 compounds	No	0	A+
223	Excel	0 compounds	No	2	B
224	Cottonwood	0 compounds	No	2	C+
225	Clio	0 compounds	No	4	B
226	Uniontown	0 compounds	No	1	A
227	Uriah	0 compounds	No	1	C+
228	Mcintosh	0 compounds	No	0	A
229	Ashland	0 compounds	No	9	A+
230	Addison	0 compounds	No	1	A
231	Midway	0 compounds	No	5	C+
232	Deer Park	0 compounds	No	1	A

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Alabama

Does Alabama tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 126 of 232 Alabama cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. 62 cities exceed the 2024 EPA MCL of 4 ppt for individual PFAS compounds.

How can I remove PFAS from my drinking water in Alabama?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing PFAS, typically removing 90%+ of compounds. High-quality activated carbon block filters (NSF 58-certified for RO, or NSF 53 for solid carbon) also provide significant reduction. Standard pitcher filters vary widely in PFAS removal.

More contaminants