Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES WATER DEPT.
HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES WATER DEPT. delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 310,107 residents in HUNTSVILLE, Alabama using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 256-535-1444.
Is HUNTSVILLE tap water safe to drink?
HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES WATER DEPT. delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 310,107 residents in HUNTSVILLE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Chromium (hexavalent), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Nitrate, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate and nitrite. 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.
Quick actions for HUNTSVILLE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES WATER DEPT..
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 27.6 ppb, 460x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 0.404 ppt, 404x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 22.3 ppb, 223x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES WATER DEPT.
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 HUNTSVILLE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 55/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
27.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 460× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.404 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 404× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
22.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 223× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
29.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 199× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.06 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
5.06 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.234 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.544 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 9.1× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.03 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 7.4× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.605 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 6.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.95 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.5× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.545 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
139.6 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Heptachlor epoxide Other |
0.00342 ppb | 0.006 | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.125 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Chloromethane Other |
0.171 ppb | 2.69 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
30.1 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
22.6 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.39 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.275 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
3.01 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.105 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.71 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.658 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.6 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0859 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
HUNTSVILLE UTILITIES WATER DEPT. service area
This water system serves 1 community in Madison County, Alabama. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for HUNTSVILLE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.