Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in ATHENS, Alabama
Tap water in ATHENS, Alabama receives a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH.. 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; Arsenic detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in ATHENS's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving ATHENS.
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 2.57 ppt, 2567x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 31.6 ppb, 527x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 30.3 ppb, 303x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.168 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH. (system ID AL0000833) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2025 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for ATHENS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in ATHENS's water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in ATHENS's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
4.99 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.57 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2567× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
31.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 527× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
30.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 303× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
32.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 218× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.99 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.168 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 42× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.37 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 37× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.05 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.57 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.108 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.542 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.409 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
36.6 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.61 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
18.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.275 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
8.3 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.132 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.96 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
4.32 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.111 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0848 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH..