Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Decatur?
Yes, Decatur's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Decatur has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page or the city's water provider website.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Decatur's water utility, Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of), had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. The last violation for Decatur was resolved on March 31, 2014. This assessment is based on the Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of) water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.
While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.
The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.
Water Quality Report for Decatur Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Decatur tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.
Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.
EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.
There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.
We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Decatur's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Decatur Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of) for Decatur in Alabama. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
From March 1, 2014 to March 31, 2014, Decatur had 1 non-health based Safe Drinking Water Act violation with the violation category being Monitoring and Reporting, more specifically, the violation code was Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) which falls into the Microbials rule code group, and the Surface Water Treatment Rules rule code family for the following contaminant code: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule.
Is there Lead in Decatur Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Decatur water system, Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of), between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Decatur water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Decatur contained more lead.
While Decatur water testing may have found 0.0 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.
No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.
Are there PFAS in Decatur Tap Water?
Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Redstone Arsenal - near Decatur with suspected leaks.
With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Decatur has been evaluated for yet.
Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.
Decatur SDWA Violation History Table - Prior 10 Years
| Compliance Period | Status | Health-Based? | Category Code | Code | Rule Code | Contaminant Code | Rule Group Code | Rule Family Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/01/2014 - 03/31/2014 | Resolved | No | Monitoring and Reporting (MR) | Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) (36) | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (123) | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (0800) | Microbials (100) | Surface Water Treatment Rules (120) |
What do these Violations Mean?
Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.
Health Based Violations
- Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
- Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
- Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.
Non-Health Based Violations
- Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
- Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
- Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.
SDWA Table Key
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Compliance Period | Dates of the compliance period. |
| Status |
Current status of the violation.
|
| Health-Based? | Whether the violation is health based. |
| Category Code |
The category of violation that is reported.
|
| Code | A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table. |
| Contaminant Code | A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation. |
| Rule Code |
Code for a National Drinking Water rule.
|
| Rule Group Code |
Code that uniquely identifies a rule group.
|
| Rule Family Code |
Code for rule family.
|
For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.
Decatur Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 256-552-1428 |
| By Mail: | P O BOX 2232 DECATUR, AL, 35603 |
Existing customers can login to their Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of) account to pay their Decatur water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of) bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Decatur water bill.
If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Decatur water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.
Moving to a new house or apartment in Decatur means you will often need to put the water in your name with Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of). In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.
Leaving your house or apartment in Decatur means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Decatur (Municipal Utilities Board Of). In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.
USER SUBMITTED RATINGS
- Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility
- Water Pollution
- Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility
- Water Quality
The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Decatur, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Decatur Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)
The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Decatur's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.
Office Hours
Monday ‐ Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Board Members
Chairman: Neal A. Holland, Jr.
Term: July 1, 2014‐June 30, 2023
Secretary: Tom Counts
Term: July 1, 2017‐June 30, 2026
Member: Al Cheatham
Term: January 2,
DECATUR UTILITIES WATER SOURCE
Decatur U li es serves approximately 25,000 customers in all por ons of the City of Decatur and rou nely provides water to the City of Hartselle, Northeast Morgan County Water District, Limestone County, and the Town of Trinity. West Morgan East Lawrence Water District has the capability to buy water from Decatur U li es upon request.
We obtain 100% of our water from Wheeler Reservoir on the Tennessee River. Our Water Treatment Plant has the capacity to treat 68 million gallons per day (MGD) of raw water. Chemical treatment consists of sodium permanganate for oxida on, fluoride to promote dental health, polyaluminum chloride for coagula on, lime for pH adjustment, poly‐orthophosphate for stabiliza on, and chlorine for disinfec on. There are four in‐ ground water storage tanks and six elevated storage tanks which provide a combined storage capacity of 23,967,000 gallons of water.
SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT
Our goal is to protect |
our water supply from any |
future contamination. The |
Alabama Department of |
Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Tennessee Valley |
|
Authority (TVA) prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) report on our water supply in 2000. The SWAP report assessed the susceptibility of our untreated water sources to potential contamination. Our water system was rated as having a moderate risk from contamination. This report is available for review at the DU Main Office during normal business hours or by appointment.
To learn more about Decatur Utilities and your water supply, we encourage you to attend any of our regularly scheduled DU Board Meetings normally held on the third Wednesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. in our Main Office located at 1002 Central Parkway SW.
LEAD AND DRINKING WATER
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with private service lines and home plumbing. DU is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. Lead is rarely found in source water.
When your water has been si ng for several hours, you can minimize the poten al for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water you may wish to have your water tested. Informa on on lead in drinking water, tes ng methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800‐426‐4791) or at https://www.epa.gov/
Definitions and Abbreviations
Ac on Level (AL) ‐ the concentra on of a contaminant that, if exceeded, triggers some follow‐up ac on.
Alabama Department of Environmental
Management (ADEM) ‐ the state environmental
regulatory agency.
Alabama Water Pollu on Control Associa on (AWPCA) ‐
a charitable organiza on to advance knowledge about water supply and treatment .
Coliform Absent (ca) ‐ Laboratory analysis indicates coliform bacteria not present.
Disinfec on Byproducts ‐ formed when disinfectants used in water treatment plants react with natural organic ma er present in the source water and produce byproducts.
Distribu on System Evalua on (DSE) ‐ a one‐year study conducted by water systems to monitor disinfec on byproducts.
Environmental Protec on Agency (EPA) ‐ the na on's environmental
regulatory agency.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) ‐ highest level of contaminant allowed in drinking water.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) ‐ the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. Maximum Residual Disinfec on Level (MRDL) ‐ maximum levels for disinfectants, set as close to the health goals as possible.
Maximum Residual Disinfec on Level Goal (MRDLG) ‐ non‐enforceable health goals, based on possible health risks and exposure over a life me, with an adequate margin of safety.
Microsiemens (1/1,000,000 siemen) per cen meter (µS/cm) – a measure of
Specific Conductance.
Millirems per year (mrem/yr) ‐ measure of radia on absorbed by the body. Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) ‐ a measure of the clarity of water. Non‐Detects (ND) ‐ laboratory analysis indicates that the contaminant is not present at a detectable level.
Not Required (NR) ‐ laboratory analysis not required due to waiver.
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter (µg/l) ‐ corresponds to one
minute in 2,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mg/l) ‐ corresponds to one minute in two years or a single penny in $10,000.
Parts per quadrillion (ppq) or Picograms per liter (picograms/l) ‐ corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000,000.
Parts per trillion (ppt) or Nanograms per liter (nanograms/l) ‐ corresponds to one minute in 2,000,000 years, or a single penny in $10,000,000,000. Picocuries per liter (pCi/L) ‐ a measure of the radioac vity in water. Running annual average (RAA) ‐ the required method of calcula ng compliance on disinfec on byproducts, TTHM and HAA5.
Specific Conductance (SC) – A measure of how well water can conduct an electrical current
Threshold Odor Number (TON) ‐ the greatest dilu on of a sample with odor‐ free water that yields a barely detectable odor.
Treatment Technique (TT) ‐ a required process to reduce a contaminant. Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) ‐ EPA program to collect data for contaminants suspected to be present in drinking water, but that do not have health‐based standards.
Variances & Exemp ons (V&E) ‐ State or EPA permission not to meet an MCL or a treatment technique under certain condi ons.
2020 ANNUAL
WATER QUALITY REPORT
Testing Performed January - December 2019
P O Box 2232 (35609)
1002 Central Parkway SW
Decatur, AL 35601
Phone (256) 552-1400
www.decaturutilities.com
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Decatur Utilities Water Treatment Plant has been recognized numerous times for outstanding service, receiving several excellence awards over the years. The most recent awards are:
- AWPCA Best Operated Plant Award two consecutive years (2018, 2019)
-
AWPCA Best Operated Distribution System three consecutive years
(2015-2017) -
ADEM Optimized Plant Award six consecutive years
(2013-2018)
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
Decatur U li es is proud to present to you this year's Annual Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the source and quality of your drinking water. We have prepared this report using the data from water quality tes ng conducted for the water system from January through December 2019.
At Decatur U li es, we deliver more than high quality water. We deliver a key resource for public health, fire protec on, industry, the economy, and the overall quality of life we enjoy in Northern Alabama. We also deliver great value. Our current residen al rates con nue to be one of the lowest in the state. We take great pride in “providing safe, reliable utility service at the lowest possible rates while meeting the needs of customers and employees.”
If you have any questions or concerns about this report or your water utility, please contact our Water Treatment Plant at (256)
More information about contaminants in drinking water and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)
Ray Hardin, General Manager
Please Share this Report
Landlords, businesses, schools, hospitals and other groups are encouraged to share this important water quality informa on with water users at their loca on.
DRINKING WATER INFORMATION
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bo led water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and radioac ve material, and it can pick up substances resul ng from the presence of animals or from human ac vity.
All drinking water, including bo led water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. MCLs, defined in the DefiniƟons and AbbreviaƟons in this report, are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated cons tuents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a life me to have a one‐in‐a‐ million chance of having the described health effect.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from wastewater treatment plants, sep c systems, agricultural livestock opera ons, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be
Decatur U li es has been granted a waiver to reduce sampling for Lead/Copper and SOCs to once every three years. This is based on prior sampling events not detec ng these contaminants. Based on a study conducted by ADEM with EPA approval, a statewide waiver for monitoring of asbestos and dioxin was issued. Therefore, these contaminants were not sampled. This report contains results from the most recent monitoring which was performed in accordance with the regulatory schedule.
Constituents Monitored |
Date Monitored |
Inorganic Contaminants |
2019 |
Lead/Copper |
2018 |
Microbiological Contaminants |
2019 |
Nitrates |
2019 |
Radioactive Contaminants |
2012 |
Synthetic Organic Contaminants |
2017 |
Volatile Organic Contaminants |
2019 |
Disinfection Byproducts |
2019 |
Cryptosporidium |
2017 |
UCMR4 |
|
DSE Disinfection Byproducts |
2017 |
The |
EPA’s |
Unregulated |
Contaminant |
Monitoring |
|
Rule |
4 (UCMR4) |
required |
some water |
systems to |
|
monitor for 30 unregulated contaminants during 2018‐2020. Our system began sampling in 2019 and the results are shown below.
UCMR4 DETECTED UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS
|
Contaminant |
Amount Detected |
Range |
|
|
|
(ug/L) |
(ug/L) |
|
|
Raw Water (Before |
Water Treatment Plant) |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bromide |
21.1 |
21.1* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Organic Carbon |
1640 |
1640* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Entry Point Data (Water Treatment Plant) |
|
|
|
|
Manganese |
1.8 |
1.8* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution System Data |
|
|
|
|
HAA5 |
26.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HAA6Br |
9.89 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HAA9 |
35.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*At the time of publication one sample has been collected.
Below is a table of contaminants for which the Environmental Protec on Agency and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management require tes ng. These contaminants were not detected in your drinking water unless they are also listed in the Detected Drinking Water Contaminants table.
STANDARD LIST OF PRIMARY DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant |
MCL |
Unit of |
Contaminant |
MCL |
Unit of |
Msmt |
Msmt |
||||
Bacteriological |
|
|
100 |
ppb |
|
Contaminants |
|
|
|||
Total Coliform Bacteria |
<5% |
present/ |
Dichloromethane |
5 |
ppb |
|
|
absent |
|
|
|
Fecal Coliform and E. coli |
0 |
present/ |
5 |
ppb |
|
|
|
absent |
|
|
|
Turbidity |
TT |
NTU |
Di |
400 |
ppb |
Cryptosporidium |
TT |
Calc.organ |
Di |
6 |
ppb |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radiological Contaminants |
|
|
Dinoseb |
7 |
ppb |
Beta/photon emitters |
4 |
mrem/yr |
Dioxin |
30 |
ppq |
Alpha emitters |
15 |
pCi/l |
Diquat |
20 |
ppb |
Combined radium |
5 |
pCi/l |
Endothall |
100 |
ppb |
Uranium |
30 |
pCi/l |
Endrin |
2 |
ppb |
Inorganic Chemicals |
|
|
Epichlorohydrin |
TT |
TT |
Antimony |
6 |
ppb |
Ethylbenzene |
700 |
ppb |
Arsenic |
10 |
ppb |
Ethylene dibromide |
50 |
ppt |
Asbestos |
7 |
MFL |
Glyphosate |
700 |
ppb |
naturally‐occurring or from urban storm water run‐off, wastewater discharges, oil/gas produc on, mining, or farming. Pes cides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, storm water run‐off, and residen al uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthe c and volatile organic chemicals, which are by‐products of industrial processes and petroleum produc on, and can also come from gas sta ons, urban storm water runoff, and sep c systems.
Radioac ve contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas produc on and mining ac vi es.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regula ons which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administra on (FDA) regula ons establish limits for contaminants in bo led water.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general popula on. Immuno‐ compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be par cularly at risk from infec ons. People at risk should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
Decatur U li es also tests your source water for pathogens, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. These pathogens can enter the water from animal or human waste. General informa on for immunocompromised persons is available on the official website of the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/parasites/ crypto/gen_info/infect_ic.html or from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426‐4791. This language does not indicate the presence of cryptosporidium in our drinking water.
MONITORING SCHEDULE
The Environmental Protec on Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and the State of Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) regula ons allow monitoring waivers to reduce or eliminate monitoring requirements for asbestos, vola le organic chemicals (VOCs), lead and copper, and synthe c organic chemicals (SOCs).
As you can see by the table of Detected Drinking Water Contaminants below, our system had no viola ons. We have determined through our monitoring and tes ng that some cons tuents have been detected. For assistance interpre ng these tables, reference the DefiniƟons and AbbreviaƟons sec on on the reverse side.
DETECTED DRINKING WATER CONTAMINANTS
Contaminant Type |
Violation |
Level |
|
Unit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
YES/NO |
Detected |
Range |
Msmt |
MCLG |
MCL |
Likely Source of Contamination |
||||
Regulated Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chlorine |
NO |
RAA 2.58 |
ppm |
MRDLG=4 |
MRDL=4 |
Water additive used to control microbes |
||||
Total Organic Carbon |
NO |
RAA 1.0 |
ppm |
n/a |
TT |
Soil runoff |
||||
Turbidity (filtered) |
NO |
Highest 0.099 |
NTU |
n/a |
TT |
Soil runoff |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copper |
NO |
0.274* |
ppm |
1.3 |
AL=1.3 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; erosion of natural deposits; |
||||
leaching from preservatives |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Fluoride - WTP |
NO |
1.11 |
ppm |
4 |
4 |
Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; |
||||
discharge from factories |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Lead |
NO |
ND** |
ppb |
0 |
AL=15 |
Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosionof natural deposits |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) |
NO |
0.57 |
0.57 |
ppm |
10 |
10 |
Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of |
|||
natural deposits |
||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
TTHM [Total trihalomethanes] |
NO |
HRAA 29.9 |
9.2 - 61.0 |
ppb |
0 |
80 |
||||
HAA5 [Total haloacetic acids] |
NO |
HRAA 22.8 |
7.7 - 36.0 |
ppb |
0 |
60 |
||||
Unregulated Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chloroform |
NO |
0.00196 |
0.00196 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|||
Bromodichloromethane |
NO |
0.00138 |
0.00138 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|||
Chlorodibromomethane |
NO |
ND |
ND |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|||
Secondary Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alkalinity, Total (as CA, Co3) |
NO |
62 |
ppm |
none |
none |
Caused by carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, phosphates, silicates |
||||
Calcium, as Ca |
NO |
19.8 |
19.8 |
ppm |
none |
none |
Naturally occurring in the environment; dissolved minerals |
|||
Carbon Dioxide |
NO |
2.35 |
2.35 |
ppm |
none |
none |
Naturally occurring in the environment |
|||
Chloride |
NO |
13.5 |
13.5 |
ppm |
n/a |
250 |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|||
Color |
NO |
5.0 |
units |
none |
15 |
Naturally occurring in the environment or water treatment |
||||
Hardness, as CaCO3 |
NO |
65.3 |
65.3 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|
||
Iron |
NO |
0.05 |
ppm |
none |
0.30 |
Naturally occurring in the environment; erosion; leaching from pipes |
||||
Magnesium, as Mg |
NO |
3.84 |
3.84 |
ppm |
none |
none |
Naturally occurring in the environment; dissolved minerals |
|||
Manganese, as Mn |
NO |
0.021 |
ppm |
none |
0.05 |
Naturally occurring in the environment |
||||
Odor |
NO |
ND |
ND |
TON |
none |
3 |
Naturally occurring in the environment or as a result of treatment with water additives |
|
||
pH |
NO |
7.13 |
S.U. |
n/a |
n/a |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
||||
Sodium |
NO |
3.51 |
3.51 |
ppm |
n/a |
n/a |
Naturally occurring in the environment |
|||
Specific Conductance |
NO |
164 |
164 |
µS/cm |
n/a |
n/a |
Measure of how well water can conduct an electrical current |
|||
Sulfate |
NO |
8.24 |
8.24 |
ppm |
n/a |
250 |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|||
Total Dissolved Solids |
NO |
ND |
ND |
ppm |
n/a |
500 |
Naturally occurring in the environment or from runoff |
|||
Distribution System Evaluation (DSE) Contaminants |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
TTHM [Total trihalomethanes] |
NO |
Avg. 20.1 |
5.1 – 56.0 |
ppb |
0 |
80 |
||||
HAA5 [Total haloacetic acids] |
NO |
Avg. 18.0 |
9.2 – 36.1 |
ppb |
0 |
60 |
||||
Barium |
2 |
ppm |
Heptachlor |
400 |
|
ppt |
|
Beryllium |
4 |
ppb |
Heptachlor epoxide |
200 |
|
ppt |
|
Cadmium |
5 |
ppb |
Hexachlorobenzene |
1 |
|
ppb |
|
Chromium |
100 |
ppb |
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene |
50 |
|
ppb |
|
Copper |
AL=1.3 |
ppm |
Lindane |
200 |
|
ppt |
|
Cyanide |
200 |
ppb |
Methoxychlor |
40 |
|
ppb |
|
Fluoride |
4 |
ppm |
Oxamyl [Vydate] |
200 |
|
ppb |
|
Lead |
AL=15 |
ppb |
Polychlorinated biphenyls |
0.5 |
|
ppb |
|
Mercury |
2 |
ppb |
Pentachlorophenol |
1 |
|
ppb |
|
Nitrate |
10 |
ppm |
Picloram |
500 |
|
ppb |
|
Nitrite |
1 |
ppm |
Simazine |
4 |
|
ppb |
|
Selenium |
.05 |
ppm |
Styrene |
100 |
|
ppb |
|
Thallium |
.002 |
ppm |
Tetrachloroethylene |
5 |
|
ppb |
|
Organic Contaminants |
|
|
Toluene |
1 |
|
ppm |
|
70 |
ppb |
Toxaphene |
3 |
|
ppb |
||
Acrylamide |
TT |
TT |
50 |
|
ppb |
||
Alachlor |
2 |
ppb |
.07 |
|
ppm |
||
Atrazine |
3 |
ppb |
200 |
|
ppb |
||
Benzene |
5 |
ppb |
5 |
|
ppb |
||
Benzo(a)pyrene [PAHs] |
200 |
ppt |
Trichloroethylene |
5 |
|
ppb |
|
Carbofuran |
40 |
ppb |
Vinyl Chloride |
2 |
|
ppb |
|
Carbon tetrachloride |
5 |
ppb |
Xylenes |
10 |
|
ppm |
|
Chlordane |
2 |
ppb |
Disinfectants & Disinfection Byproducts |
|
|
||
Chlorobenzene |
100 |
ppb |
Chlorine |
4 |
|
ppm |
|
Dalapon |
200 |
ppb |
Chlorine Dioxide |
800 |
|
ppb |
|
Dibromochloropropane |
200 |
ppt |
Chloramines |
4 |
|
ppm |
|
600 |
ppb |
Bromate |
10 |
|
ppb |
||
75 |
ppb |
Chlorite |
1 |
|
ppm |
||
5 |
ppb |
HAA5 [Total haloacetic acids] |
60 |
|
ppb |
||
7 |
ppb |
TTHM [Total trihalomethanes] |
80 |
|
ppb |
||
70 |
ppb |
Total Organic Carbon |
TT |
|
ppm |
|
|
UNREGULATED CONTAMINANTS
1,1 – Dichloropropene |
Aldicarb |
Chloroform |
Metolachlor |
|
Aldicarb Sulfone |
Chlorodibromomethane |
Metribuzin |
||
Aldicarb Sulfoxide |
Chloromethane |
N - Butylbenzene |
||
Aldrin |
Dibromomethane |
Naphthalene |
||
1,2,3 |
- Trichlorobenzene |
Bromobenzene |
Dicamba |
|
1,2,3 |
- Trichloropropane |
Bromochloromethane |
Dichlorodifluoromethane |
|
1,2,4 |
- Trimethylbenzene |
Bromodichloromethane |
Dieldrin |
|
1,3 – Dichloropropane |
Bromoform |
Hexachlorobutadiene |
||
1,3 – Dichloropropene |
Bromomethane |
Isoprpylbenzene |
Propachlor |
|
1,3,5 |
- Trimethylbenzene |
Butachlor |
Sec - Butylbenzene |
|
2,2 – Dichloropropane |
Carbaryl |
Methomyl |
Tert - Butylbenzene |
|
Chloroethane |
MTBE |
Trichlorfluoromethane |
||
|
|
|
|
|
SECONDARY CONTAMINANTS
Alkalinity, Total (CA, Co3) |
Corrosivity |
Magnesium |
Sodium |
Aluminum |
Foaming agents |
Manganese |
Sulfate |
Calcium, as Ca |
(MBAS) |
Odor |
Total Dissolved Solids |
Chloride |
Hardness |
Nickel |
Zinc |
Color |
Iron |
pH |
Zinc |
Copper |
Langelier Index |
Silver |
|
|
|
|
|
- Fig. shown is 90th percentile. One site was above the Action Level 1.3 ppm. **Fig. shown is 90th percentile. One site was above the Action Level 15 ppb.
Contaminants
Decatur
EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019 - March 2019), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.
Utility details
- Serves: 77100
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 13
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Chlorate
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Strontium
- Vanadium
Reminder
Always take extra precautions, the water may be safe to drink when it leaves the sewage treatment plant but it may pick up pollutants during its way to your tap. We advise that you ask locals or hotel staff about the water quality. Also, note that different cities have different water mineral contents.