What was found in Gadsden'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 1013 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 340 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 326 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 54.12 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 82.12 µg/L — NORTHEAST ETOWAH COUNTY WATER CO-OP · 4,275 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 54.8 µg/L 4.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 72 µg/L — NORTHEAST ETOWAH COUNTY WATER CO-OP · 4,275 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 50.35 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 24.98 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38.02 µg/L — NORTHEAST ETOWAH COUNTY WATER CO-OP · 4,275 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 15.515 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 9.853 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6.438 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.0385 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 1 pCi/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2012 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.1554 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0565 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0349 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0324 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0320 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0191 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0210 µg/L — NORTHEAST ETOWAH COUNTY WATER CO-OP · 4,275 people · 2025 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0117 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0025 mg/L 17% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0055 mg/L — TILLISON BEND WATER AUTHORITY · 1,074 people · 2023 | 5/5 | LCR |
| PFHXS | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF · 44,637 people · 2024 | 3/5 | UCMR-5 |
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 Gadsden
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GADSDEN, THE WWSB OF THE CITY OF | 44,637 |
| NORTHEAST ETOWAH COUNTY WATER CO-OP | 4,275 |
| HIGHLAND WATER AUTHORITY | 3,963 |
| WHORTON BEND WATER AUTHORITY | 2,610 |
| TILLISON BEND WATER AUTHORITY | 1,074 |
Frequently asked questions about Gadsden tap water
Is Gadsden tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Gadsden. 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 Gadsden?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Gadsden, Alabama to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Gadsden's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Gadsden include Fluoride, Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, TTHM, 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.