What was found in Bessemer's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | 926.35 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 880 µg/L 8.8% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BESSEMER,GUSC OF THE CITY OF · 32 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 845 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BESSEMER,GUSC OF THE CITY OF · 32 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 743 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 135.8 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 141.9 µg/L — WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 81.875 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 86.025 µg/L — WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 38.86 µg/L 65% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42.305 µg/L — WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 37.95 µg/L 1.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 13.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 11.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 12.7 µg/L — WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2024 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 9.8875 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.38 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.846 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1.085 pCi/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.7700 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0077 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2025 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0060 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2025 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0057 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2025 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY · 38,700 people · 2024 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2025 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0010 mg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: BESSEMER WATER SERVICE · 86,091 people · 2027 | 3/3 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Bessemer
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| BESSEMER WATER SERVICE | 86,091 |
| WARRIOR RIVER WATER AUTHORITY | 38,700 |
| BESSEMER,GUSC OF THE CITY OF | 32 |
Frequently asked questions about Bessemer tap water
Is Bessemer tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Bessemer. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Bessemer?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Bessemer, Alabama to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Bessemer's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Bessemer include Chlorite, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.