Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in DECATUR, Alabama
Tap water in DECATUR, Alabama receives a grade of F (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by DECATUR, MUNICIPAL UB OF. 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 DECATUR's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving DECATUR.
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 32.5 ppb, 542x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 19.2 ppb, 192x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 22.5 ppb, 150x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Recommended filters for DECATUR
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in DECATUR's 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.
All contaminants detected in DECATUR'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 |
32.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 542× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
19.2 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 192× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
22.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 150× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.63 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
1.82 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 20× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
6.43 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 16× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.62 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.21 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 7.4× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.08 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.45 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.2× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.45 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.2× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.143 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
83.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
20.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
18.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.388 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
7.15 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.226 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.7 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.15 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.414 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0665 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.93 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.507 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 DECATUR, MUNICIPAL UB OF.