Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
AUBURN WATER WORKS
AUBURN WATER WORKS delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 65,313 residents in AUBURN, Alabama using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 334-501-3067.
Is AUBURN tap water safe to drink?
AUBURN WATER WORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 65,313 residents in AUBURN, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Bromodichloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Chloroform, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Chlorate, Dibromochloromethane. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for AUBURN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for AUBURN WATER WORKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.28 ppt, 1282x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 39.3 ppb, 655x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 28.8 ppb, 288x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact AUBURN WATER WORKS
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for AUBURN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 53/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
5.66 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.28 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1282× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
39.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 655× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
28.8 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 288× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
41.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 279× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.58 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.568 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.5× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.118 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.9× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.69 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.6× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
2.06 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.26 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.9× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.26 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
272.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.105 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.0× over |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.064 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Styrene Volatile organic compound |
0.0278 ppb | 0.5 | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
21.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0724 ppb | 3.0 | 6.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
10.4 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.59 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.246 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.03 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.81 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.49 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0246 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.966 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.779 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
AUBURN WATER WORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Lee County, Alabama. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for AUBURN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.