Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Birmingham, AL tap water
35 contaminants were measured in the Birmingham, AL water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 4 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 35
- Over federal limit
- 4
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Turbidity
- 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)near national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
6:2 FTS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (0.03898000000000001 µg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (18 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
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
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
2 contaminants historically over EPA limits in Birmingham, AL
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2013 | 0.0847 mg/L 1.4× | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2016 | 0.11 mg/L 1.4× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRITE worst: 2012 | 0.7 mg/L within | 1 mg/L | '12'14'16 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2014 | 0.918 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2012 | 1.4 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2017 | 0.79 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2013 | 0.3 pCi/L within below national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '13'15'16'17'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2018 | 0.0322 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'15'16'17'18'19 |
ETHYLBENZENE worst: 2012 | 0.00317 mg/L within | 0.7 mg/L | '12 |
XYLENES TOTAL worst: 2012 | 0.0211 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.001 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
LEAD worst: 2019 | 0.00842 mg/L | — | '19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00799 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0413 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00148 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 2MaximumSystem-wide | 0.05MCL | At or above the limit |
| Antimony | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.006MCL | None detected |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.01MCL | None detected |
| Beryllium | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.004MCL | None detected |
| Cadmium | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.005MCL | None detected |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.1MCL | None detected |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.002MCL | None detected |
| Thallium | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.002MCL | None detected |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 37.7 pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.7 pCi/LMaximumSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOSPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in firefighting foam and coatings. | 0.0025–0.0036RangeSystem-wide | 0.004MCL | Approaching the limit |
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 0.0021–0.0025RangeSystem-wide | 0.004MCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.4–2.97RangeSystem-wide | 4MRDLG | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 9.2Highest single sampleSystem-wide | 20MCLG | Within the limit |
| Cyanide | Not detectedMaximumSystem-wide | 0.2MCL | None detected |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 8.01–18.2RangeSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0.74Reported levelDistribution | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Birmingham, AL's water
+Is Birmingham, AL tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Birmingham, AL water utility lists 4 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Turbidity, Selenium, Fluoride, and Gross Alpha. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Birmingham, AL tap water?
35 contaminants were measured in Birmingham, AL's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, pfas ("forever chemicals"), and inorganic chemicals. 26 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Birmingham, AL tap water?
4 contaminants in Birmingham, AL's 2024 report sit at or above the federal limit: Turbidity (140.0× the limit); Selenium (40.0× the limit); Fluoride (9.3× the limit); Gross Alpha (2.5× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Birmingham, AL tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Turbidity, at 140.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Birmingham, AL tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: PFOS. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+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.