Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Birmingham, Alabama
Tap water in Birmingham, Alabama receives a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM. 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. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Birmingham's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Birmingham.
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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM (system ID AL0000738) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2026 | Open |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/11/2023 | 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 Birmingham
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Birmingham'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 Birmingham'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, 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 CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Birmingham's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: