Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in AUBURN, Alabama

Served by AUBURN WATER WORKS. 65,313 residents.

Average score 53/100
Utilities 1
Population 65,313
Quick answer

Tap water in AUBURN, Alabama receives a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by AUBURN WATER WORKS. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in AUBURN's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving AUBURN.

PFAS contamination

Severe concern

Perfluorooctane 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 concern

Perfluorohexane 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 concern

Haloacetic 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 concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 28.8 ppb, 288x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Recommended filters for AUBURN

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in AUBURN's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon

$80-$750

Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Clearly Filtered Pitcher Filter
$80-$95 NSF 42, 53, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon

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 AUBURN'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
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, 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 AUBURN WATER WORKS.

Treatment Plant

FacilityJAMES ESTES WTP

ZIP codes served

AUBURN's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: