Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER
TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 166,524 residents in TUSCALOOSA, Alabama using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 205-248-5366.
Is TUSCALOOSA tap water safe to drink?
TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 166,524 residents in TUSCALOOSA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chlorite, Chloroform, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chlorate, Chromium (hexavalent). 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 TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER (system ID AL0001313) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| 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.
Quick actions for TUSCALOOSA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic 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 concernHaloacetic 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 concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 38.1 ppb, 254x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER
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 TUSCALOOSA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 72/100 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
TUSCALOOSA WATER & SEWER service area
This water system serves 1 community in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for TUSCALOOSA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.