Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
FAIRHOPE, CITY OF
FAIRHOPE, CITY OF delivers tap water graded C (68/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 59,850 residents in FAIRHOPE, Alabama using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Radium, combined (-226 and -228) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 251-990-0100.
Is FAIRHOPE tap water safe to drink?
FAIRHOPE, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (68/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 59,850 residents in FAIRHOPE, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 10 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Nitrate, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Nitrate and nitrite, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for FAIRHOPE, CITY OF (system ID AL0000035) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2025 | Open |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for FAIRHOPE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for FAIRHOPE, CITY OF.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Radium, combined (-226 and -228) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernRadium, combined (-226 and -228) detected at 1.26 pCi/L, 25x above the EWG health guideline of 0.05 pCi/L.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 1.26 ppb, 21x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact FAIRHOPE, CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for FAIRHOPE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Reverse osmosis certified for radium (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$750RO certified for radium 226/228 reduces it; ion-exchange water softeners also reduce radium.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 68/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.232 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 39× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
1.26 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.26 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.26 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 16× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
2.29 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.258 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.968 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 11× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.46 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.71 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.0× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
0.521 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 5.2× over |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
15.8 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
33.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
36.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.643 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.163 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.094 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0254 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.544 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
FAIRHOPE, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Baldwin County, Alabama. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for FAIRHOPE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.