Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 585,000 residents in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 205-244-4000.
Is BIRMINGHAM tap water safe to drink?
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 585,000 residents in BIRMINGHAM, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA). 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 BIRMINGHAM residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 25.2 ppb, 421x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 27.1 ppb, 271x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 30.2 ppb, 201x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM
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 BIRMINGHAM
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 55/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
25.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 421× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
27.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 271× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 201× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.083 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 83× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.39 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
14.3 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.12 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.74 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 5.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.28 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.6× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.487 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0778 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.9× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.217 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.5× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.217 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.5× over |
| 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA) Other |
1.45 ppt | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
55.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0681 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
21.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
16.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.944 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.109 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.29 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0406 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.4 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.62 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.096 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0369 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.505 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.
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM 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 BIRMINGHAM water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.