Is there PFAS in Madison County Water Department water?
Some. At least one sample reached an EPA limit, but the average at every sampling point stayed below it.
Madison County Water Department
Serves 119,100 people · 10 PFOA samples from 2 sampling points · Dec 2024 to Sep 2025
One or more samples at an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
not detected
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
3.5 ppt avg · max 5.0
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
not detected
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBA, PFBS.
Madison County Water Department is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Huntsville, Alabama, serving about 119,100 people, including Ardmore, Brownsboro, Gurley, Harvest, Hazel Green, Meridianville. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 10 times across 2 sampling points between Dec 2024 and Sep 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: NEtFOSAA, PFMBA, NMeFOSAA, PFTA, PFHpS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFTrDA, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, HFPO-DA, PFMPA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Alabama
All 307 tested systems in Alabama
ZIP codes served
35739 35741 35748 35749 35750 35759 35760 35761 35763 35773 35776 35810 35811
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Madison County Water Department water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID AL0000888. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/alabama/madison-county-water-department/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID AL0000888). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
