Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Birmingham, AL tap water
36 contaminants were measured in the Birmingham, AL water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 36
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- AL
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
5 PFAS compounds detected in Birmingham, AL
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)6:2 FTS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Birmingham, AL's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 4 sources.
Source
- INLAND LAKE
- SIPSEY FORK
- CAHABA RIVER & LAKE PURDY
- MULBERRY FORK
Treatment
- CARSON FILTER PLANT
- PUTNAM FILTER PLANT
- SHADES MOUNTAIN FILTER PLANT
- + 1 more
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Monitoring & reporting1 violation on record · most recent Oct 20231 open
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.4–2.97 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 44.4 ug/LReported levelPine Bluff #2 - 9 Good News Road, 35172 | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (11)— Pine Bluff #2 - 9 Good News Road, 35172, UAB/VA - 1813 6th Avenue South, 35233, SCO - 3535 Colonnade Parkway, 35243 +8 more
| |||
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 50.7 ug/LReported levelWest Jefferson - 4251 Flat Top Road, 35073 | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (11)— West Jefferson - 4251 Flat Top Road, 35073, Brookside #2 - 2299 Roberta Road, 35214, UAB/VA - 1813 6th Avenue South, 35233 +8 more
| |||
| BromodichloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 8.17Highest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChloroformA trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. | 19Highest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| DibromochloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 2Highest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.65 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.5 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Cyanide | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.2 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| NitriteA compound from fertilizer runoff, sewage, and erosion of natural deposits. | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 1 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 18.2Highest single sampleSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
| Trichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 9.2Highest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.7 pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 1.1 pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Nitrite | 0.5 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| Chromium | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.1 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| Mcaa | 0–4.35RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.032 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.01 mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| Antimony | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.006 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.01 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| Beryllium | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.004 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| Cadmium | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.005 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.015 mg/LAction level | None detected |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.002 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| Thallium | Not detected mg/LMaximumSystem-wide | 0.002 mg/LMCL | None detected |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0.0036 ng/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 0.0025 ng/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
People also ask about Birmingham, AL's water
+Is Birmingham, AL tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 36 contaminants measured in Birmingham, AL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Birmingham, AL tap water?
36 contaminants were measured in Birmingham, AL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and inorganic chemicals. 21 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Birmingham, AL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Birmingham, AL's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.