Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MADISON, THE W & WW BOARD OF THE CITY OF
MADISON, THE W & WW BOARD OF THE CITY OF delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 54,114 residents in MADISON, Alabama using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 256-777-0253.
Is MADISON tap water safe to drink?
MADISON, THE W & WW BOARD OF THE CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 54,114 residents in MADISON, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). 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 MADISON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MADISON, THE W & WW BOARD OF THE CITY OF.
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 29.0 ppb, 483x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 29.9 ppb, 299x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 44.9 ppb, 299x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact MADISON, THE W & WW BOARD OF THE 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 MADISON
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 53/100 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 |
29.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 483× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
29.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 299× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
44.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 299× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.26 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 71× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.753 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 38× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
7.63 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.47 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.711 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.1× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.668 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 4.8× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.425 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 4.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.29 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 4.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
204.4 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.012 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) Other |
0.262 ppt | 9.0 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
20.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.375 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.189 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
7.3 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
1.24 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.33 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0342 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.106 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.343 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.
MADISON, THE W & WW BOARD OF THE CITY OF 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 MADISON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.