Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in BESSEMER, Alabama
Tap water in BESSEMER, Alabama receives a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by BESSEMER WATER SERVICE. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in BESSEMER's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving BESSEMER.
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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for BESSEMER WATER SERVICE (system ID AL0000737) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Missed reporting | 10/17/2024 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | 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 BESSEMER
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in BESSEMER'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.
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 BESSEMER'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 |
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, 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 BESSEMER WATER SERVICE.