Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH.
LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH. delivers tap water graded D (61/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 90,900 residents in ATHENS, Alabama using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 256-233-6448.
Is ATHENS tap water safe to drink?
LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH. delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (61/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 90,900 residents in ATHENS, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 13 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Arsenic, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Chloroform, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromochloromethane. 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 LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH. (system ID AL0000833) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 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 ATHENS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH..
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.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 2.57 ppt, 2567x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 31.6 ppb, 527x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 30.3 ppb, 303x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.168 ppb.
Contact LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH.
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 ATHENS
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.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
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 61/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
4.99 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
2.57 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 2567× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
31.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 527× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
30.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 303× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
32.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 218× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.99 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 50× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.168 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 42× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
3.37 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 37× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
14.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.05 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.57 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 11× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.108 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.542 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Mercury (inorganic) Heavy metal |
0.409 ppb | 1.2 | 2.0 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
36.6 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
4.61 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
18.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.275 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
8.3 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.132 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.96 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
4.32 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
1.8 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.111 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0848 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
LIMESTONE COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTH. service area
This water system serves 1 community in Limestone County, Alabama. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ATHENS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.