What contaminants are in TUSCALOOSA tap water?

Public data sources identify the following contaminants in TUSCALOOSA's water supply: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chlorite, Chloroform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chlorate, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Manganese, Barium, Strontium, 4-Androstene-3,17-dione, Fluoride. Levels and comparison to EWG health guidelines are listed on the full city page.

Which water utility serves TUSCALOOSA?

TUSCALOOSA is served by TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER. TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER serves approximately 166,524 residents.

Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in TUSCALOOSA, Alabama

Q: Is the tap water in TUSCALOOSA, Alabama safe to drink?

TUSCALOOSA's tap water receives a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline, Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Grades are based on EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and the utility's published Consumer Confidence Report.

Served by TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER. 166,524 residents.

Average score 72/100

Utilities 1

Population 166,524

72/100

Average

ⓘ How did we get this rating?

Quick answer

Tap water in TUSCALOOSA, Alabama receives a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER. The most significant water quality concerns are: 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.

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

What's in TUSCALOOSA's tap water

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

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 41.5 ppb, 692x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 30.4 ppb, 304x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 38.1 ppb, 254x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

EPA compliance record

Official U.S. EPA records for TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER (system ID AL0001313) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.

Health-based violation in the last 3 years. A contaminant was above the legal limit or required treatment was not met in at least one quarter.

2 of 12quarters with a violation

Nolead above EPA action level

02/27/2025last state inspection

Rule	Type	Since	Status
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule	Missed testing or reporting	07/01/2025	Open
Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	Required treatment not met	08/01/2023	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 TUSCALOOSA

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

Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)

$180-$599

Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.

Aquasana AQ-5300 Under-Sink Filter

$180-$240 NSF 42, 53, 401, 372

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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 TUSCALOOSA'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	41.5 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	692× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct	30.4 ppb	0.1	60.0	60	—	—	—	304× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct	38.1 ppb	0.15	80.0	100	—	—	—	254× over
Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct	1.26 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	21× over
Chlorite Disinfection byproduct	484.4 ppb	50.0	1000.0	—	—	—	—	9.7× over
Chloroform Disinfection byproduct	3.07 ppb	0.4	—	—	—	—	—	7.7× over
Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological	0.37 pCi/L	0.05	5.0	—	—	—	—	7.3× over
Chlorate Disinfection byproduct	590.3 ppb	210.0	—	—	—	—	—	2.8× over
Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal	0.0356 ppb	0.02	—	—	—	—	—	1.8× over
Nitrate Inorganic	0.136 ppm	0.14	10.0	11.3	11.3	10	—	Below guideline
Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic	0.136 ppm	0.14	10.0	11.3	11.3	10	—	Below guideline
Manganese Heavy metal	5.78 ppb	100.0	—	50	80	—	—	Below guideline
Barium Heavy metal	19.9 ppb	700.0	2000.0	—	1300	2000	—	Below guideline
Strontium Radiological	0.0254 ppb	1500.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other	0.038 ppt	—	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Fluoride Inorganic	0.235 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.