Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
BESSEMER WATER SERVICE
BESSEMER WATER SERVICE delivers tap water graded D (59/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 86,091 residents in BESSEMER, Alabama using surface water (purchased). The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 205-481-4333.
Is BESSEMER tap water safe to drink?
BESSEMER WATER SERVICE delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (59/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 86,091 residents in BESSEMER, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane*, Dibromochloromethane*, Chloroform*, Radium, combined (-226 and -228)*, Chlorite*, Nitrate and nitrite*, Nitrate*, Chromium (hexavalent), Chlorate. 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 BESSEMER residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for BESSEMER WATER SERVICE.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 22.1 ppb, 368x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 40.2 ppb, 268x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 21.0 ppb, 210x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact BESSEMER WATER SERVICE
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 BESSEMER
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 59/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.7 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
22.1 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 368× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
40.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 268× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 210× over |
| Bromodichloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
8.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 140× over |
| Dibromochloromethane* Disinfection byproduct |
3.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 33× over |
| Chloroform* Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228)* Radiological |
0.77 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chlorite* Disinfection byproduct |
533.5 ppb | 50.0 | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite* Inorganic |
1.09 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.8× over |
| Nitrate* Inorganic |
0.917 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 6.5× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0406 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
395.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.9× over |
| Aluminum* Heavy metal |
74.3 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.04 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium* Heavy metal |
27.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.305 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.513 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
7.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
5.7 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
5.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.499 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.075 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.4 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0685 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride* Inorganic |
0.81 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
11.4 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrite* Inorganic |
0.17 ppm | — | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | 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.
BESSEMER WATER SERVICE service area
This water system serves 1 community in Jefferson County, Alabama. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BESSEMER water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.