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Gadsden, AL Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Gadsden, AL — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Gadsden's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Gadsden, The Wwsb Of The City Of PWSID: AL0000577 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit

Lead is 2.50 ppb, 17% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 5.86 times the limit.

C

Gadsden earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 2.50 ppb — 17% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
23 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Gadsden's lead level vs. all Alabama community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 2.50 ppb — 17% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 20% of Alabama utilities
Population Served
33838
~14900 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
23 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
17% of EPA action level
2.50 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 2.50 ppb, 17% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2023 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2023 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2023 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2023 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2022–2023 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2022–2023 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2022 Resolved
Arsenic MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.010 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Barium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 2 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Cadmium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Chromium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
CYANIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Fluoride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Mercury MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Nickel MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2022 Resolved
Nitrite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Antimony, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.006 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Beryllium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Thallium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Selenium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Nitrate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

23 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Gadsden, The Wwsb Of The City Of
PWSID AL0000577
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 33,838
Service connections 14,900
Systems serving this area 7
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gadsden tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 2.50 ppb, 17% of the action level.
Does Gadsden water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 5.86 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Gadsden? ▼
Gadsden, The Wwsb Of The City Of (PWSID AL0000577), one of 7 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-07-15. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Gadsden Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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