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Is there PFAS in Northeast Alabama Water System water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Northeast Alabama Water System averaged 6.0 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.5 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Northeast Alabama Water System Serves 47,070 people · 22 PFOA samples from 4 sampling points · Aug 2024 to Jun 2025 Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid 6.0 ppt avg · max 11.9
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid 2.7 ppt avg · max 5.6
EPA 4
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined not detected
EPA 1

Also detected, no federal limit: PFBA, PFHpA, PFHxA, PFBS, PFPeA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Northeast Alabama Water System is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Fort Payne, Alabama, serving about 47,070 people, including Langston, Albertville, Boaz, Cedar Bluff, Centre, Collinsville. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 22 times across 4 sampling points between Aug 2024 and Jun 2025.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid		 3 of 22 11.9 ppt 6.0 ppt 4 ppt
PFBA
Perfluorobutanoic acid		 8 of 22 11.3 ppt 5.8 ppt none
PFHpA
Perfluoroheptanoic acid		 3 of 22 7.6 ppt 3.6 ppt none
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid		 4 of 22 7.2 ppt 5.7 ppt none
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid		 5 of 22 5.7 ppt 1.7 ppt none
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid		 4 of 22 5.7 ppt 4.8 ppt none
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid		 2 of 22 5.6 ppt 2.7 ppt 4 ppt

Not detected: PFDoA, PFDA, HFPO-DA, ADONA, PFHpS, PFPeS, PFHxS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFMBA, PFNA, PFUnA, PFEESA, PFMPA, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 8:2 FTS, NFDHA, 9Cl-PF3ONS.

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

35755 35950 35951 35956 35957 35959 35960 35961 35962 35963 35967 35968 35971 35973 35974 35975 35976 35978 35981 35983 35986 35988 35989 36775

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 Northeast Alabama Water System water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID AL0001422. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/alabama/northeast-alabama-water-system/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID AL0001422). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.