Table of Contents
Can You Drink Tap Water in Huntsville?
Yes, Huntsville's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Huntsville 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, the city's water provider website, or Huntsville's local Twitter account.
According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Huntsville's water utility, Huntsville Utilities, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the Huntsville Utilities 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 Huntsville Tap Water
The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Huntsville 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 Huntsville's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.
Huntsville Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years
Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Huntsville Utilities for Huntsville in Alabama. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.
Is there Lead in Huntsville Water?
Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Huntsville water system, Huntsville Utilities, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.0 mg/L of lead in Huntsville water. This is 0% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Huntsville contained more lead.
While Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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.
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.
Huntsville Water - Frequently Asked Questions
| By Phone: | 256-746-2888 |
| By Mail: | P.O. Box 2048 HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35804 |
Existing customers can login to their Huntsville Utilities account to pay their Huntsville water bill by clicking here.
If you want to pay your Huntsville Utilities 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville means you will often need to put the water in your name with Huntsville Utilities. 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 Huntsville means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Huntsville Utilities. 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.
The estimated price of bottled water
$1.50 in USD (1.5-liter)
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 Huntsville, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).
Related FAQS
Contaminants
Huntsville Utilities
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: 219168
- Data available: 2012-2017
- Data Source: Surface water
- Total: 19
Contaminants That Exceed Guidelines
- Bromodichloromethane
- Chloroform
- Chromium (hexavalent)
- Dibromochloromethane
- Nitrate
- Nitrate and nitrite
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Other Detected Contaminants
- 1%2C4-Dioxane
- Aluminum
- Chlorate
- Chromium (total)
- Fluoride
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Manganese
- Molybdenum
- Strontium
- Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
- Toluene
- 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.
Sources and Resources
Sources Cited
Additional Resources
Huntsville Tap Water
The Huntsville tap water filtration process that includes reverse osmosis is a highly effective method for removing contaminants. However, there are situations in which it might not be quite as effective. When you consider that a typical filter system for the kitchen sink only deals with a few contaminants and leaves the rest in the water, several things can go wrong. Perhaps the impurities are too high, or maybe the membrane’s pores aren’t large enough to trap the contaminants’ chemicals. Whatever the reason, a sound Huntsville water filtration system is required for keeping your tap water clean and tasting great.
If you’ve ever had a water treatment system put to use in the home before, then you know that the cost of that particular system can be astronomical. Even though it may eliminate some of the pollutants, it will also leave behind thousands of pounds of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms in the water. This is not something you want in your family’s food or water supply.
A sound Huntsville water filtration system will give you pristine water. It will eliminate all of the harmful particles in the water and leave behind the essential minerals, which we need in our daily life. There are several different types of filters on the market to choose from, including activated carbon, multi-block, and sub-micron filtration systems. Some of these units can be pretty expensive, but if you’re serious about protecting your family, then it’s well worth it. After all, you don’t want to take chances when it comes to the water you’re supplying them with, do you?
Drinking Water in Huntsville
Huntsville is one of the best cities in the United States to locate a Huntsville drinking water treatment facility. The city has a population of over six million people, so there is always a good chance that many residents will be consuming some form of water daily. There are many large-scale treatment plants located throughout Alabama, and several of them can be found in Huntsville.
If you live in or around Huntsville, there is an excellent likelihood that there is a Huntsville drinking water treatment plant within your local vicinity. This means that the quality of the water coming into your home is dependable and safe for consumption. However, reside some distance from any of the treatment facilities. Your tap water quality will be much less than if you were using a quality water purification system at home. Most people don’t realize that they can save money by purifying their own tap water at home. Not only will it cost you less money, but you will have the added benefit of knowing that you are taking care of the quality of your drinking water as well.
In addition to Huntsville water purification plants, you also have options for water purification tablets. These tablets are an excellent alternative to purchasing bottled water because the tablet can be used to make your own water. Once you make your own water, all you need to do is dissolve the tablet in your water. Drinking tap water and making your own water is a simple process to do, and one that you can even do with your children! We must try to take care of the environment and protect our health, but sometimes it’s just too hard. That’s why there is a great reason to use the high-quality drinking water treatment systems available in Huntsville.
Huntsville Water Quality Report
Having a Huntsville water quality report done by an independent company will give you the peace of mind to know that the water coming into your home or business is of high quality. This makes it much easier to deal with problems should they arise. Many companies offer these types of reports as a service to their customers. Find out when they can be done and how often they should be done.
There are several different times when checking the quality of your water in Huntsville can be done. One is before you add any water to your household. This needs to be done because many people are not aware that they need to do this to have clean water for drinking. Another is after you use up all of your water from your faucets. Doing this allows you to check the liquid’s quality that runs through your pipes and determine if anything should be changed.
When you have a Huntsville water quality report done, you have more peace of mind than if you didn’t. You don’t have to worry about the chemicals and pollutants in the water affecting you or your family. You also don’t have to worry about how bad the quality of water is. Knowing the risks is enough, but knowing that they are minimal will make it worth your while to get the report done. Get it done once and you can save yourself a lot of heartaches and worry in the future.
Huntsville Water Treatment Plants
For a long time, the Huntsville Water Treatment Plant had problems with their treatment facilities, but it finally got fixed, and they are now one of the top-rated treatment plants in the area. The water sent through the plant has to go through a specific system that tests for anything that might be harmful to people, such as microorganisms and other contaminants. The plant also uses chemicals to kill off these harmful organisms. Once all of these things are handled, the water can then go through the actual purification process, where it gets purified and cleaned before being sent out for use.
A few different methods are used in the treatment of the water that goes out of the Huntsville Water Treatment Plant. One of those methods involves using ultraviolet light. This method works well, especially when looking at bacteria, but is not very effective at cleaning up the large particulates found in the water. The other way they use is electrolysis, where they use electricity to break down the contaminants and get them into simpler compounds that can be filtered out.
While Huntsville is not the largest city in the state, it is still a good place for people to live. The water treatment plant itself is one of the best in the area, and they treat all of the water that is sent out. This means that people can be sure that their drinking is pure and free of unwanted substances. Another great thing about this particular water treatment plant is that it is located right next to the University of Alabama. This allows students a chance to enjoy the water from the plant regularly. People will never forget when they took a water sample and were surprised at how good the water really was.
Huntsville Water Utility
If you have questions about your Huntsville water utility, you can contact the Huntsville Utilities Authority (SUA) at any time for assistance. The number to call for information is (832) 459-4138. The authority also has posted some crucial notices on its website, which you can check out. These notices will let you know your water service status (i.e., whether it is in working condition and whether repairs and replacements are required), how to file a complaint, what you can do to stop water damage, and other information that you should be aware of.
Another resource you can use to find information about your Huntsville water utility is the Huntsville Water Utility Company’s office. The telephone number is (832) 690-1000. You will want to schedule an appointment to speak with one of their representatives. This company was established to help you manage and protect your right to clean, drink and bathe in your own home. They will work with you to ensure that you get all of the protection you need for this right – whether you have an older septic system or have a new one installed.
You can also search online to find the website of one of the Huntsville water utility companies. The website will tell you more about how you can become fully bonded and protected, the processes they go through to repair any damage caused by water and more. It will also give you the phone number of a professional engineer if you have any major plumbing or electrical problems with your water system. They will assess the situation and let you know whether you need a plumber or an electrician and what steps you should take to fix the problem.
Huntsville Water Systems
Huntsville is one of the largest cities in Alabama and has a population of around 5 million. It is located in the Mobile Mountains’ foothills and is surrounded by rolling green hills and beautiful woods. The city was named after John Hunt, a trader, and businessman, and developed Huntsville’s town. This was during the time when cotton was first being grown in the area. Today, many water treatment plants in Huntsville serve residents, but do you know your water is treated?
Huntsville water companies use what is known as a Point of the Use treatment system, or POE system, to clean up city water. For this system to function, each home has a connection with a water pump that brings it into the city. When there is something wrong with the water coming into your home, such as too much salt, it sends it back out through the main sewer line to the POE system, where it is purified. This is the primary reason why the water tastes so bad in some parts of the city. Salt will clog up the pipes and cause various problems such as foul odor, cloudy water, and even damage to some of the lines.
Your family must have clean, great-tasting water to bathe in and to cook in. If you want the best quality water for drinking, cooking, and other uses, you need to have a quality water company in Huntsville that can take care of your needs. If you are looking for a water softener in Huntsville, you will want to contact Huntsville water company and find out what types of systems they have to clean your water. You may be surprised at all that is available to you.
Huntsville Water
It is hard to find a person who does not know Huntsville, Alabama, as the largest city in the State of Alabama. With the third-largest economy in the state, it is no surprise that Huntsville water is of the utmost importance. Huntsville’s city is located along the southernmost tip of Alabama and is bordered on two sides by the Mississippi River and on the other by the Guadalupe River. With a population of close to two million people, Huntsville is a vibrant community that offers many different types of businesses, places to live, and sports teams for residents. The city is known for its annual Great Huntsville Festival, one of the most popular events of the year, and has an economy that rivals any other city in the state.
There are numerous different water filtration systems available to customers in the city, and many of the companies offer a full range of services. Customers can choose a faucet or whole house filter based on their needs, ensuring that every customer has the perfect water filtration system for their home. Many businesses offer free water testing at different times of the month to help potential customers find the best method to meet their family’s drinking water needs. The city’s economic base is based on the continued sale of goods and services, and tourism is the primary income source.
Huntsville water is sold in both bottled and tankless forms, and both systems work wonderfully for the average household. The installation of a faucet filter can be accomplished relatively quickly and significantly differentiate the taste and quality of tap water. Once purchased, there is no cost associated with changing or cleaning the filtration system, and there is no reason not to since it works and keeps working to provide the best possible water for all of the family.
Huntsville Water Quality
The Huntsville water treatment and pollution treatment plant are among the very best in the nation. When you visit Huntsville, you will find the most extensive treatment plant in the state. This plant treats all of the water going into Huntsville as clean and safe for human consumption. Not only does this water go through quality testing, but it is sent to homes and businesses as well to help them to purify their drinking water as well.
The way that this system works is by attaching ultraviolet light to bacteria in the water. The light is harmful to these bacteria, but it is not detrimental to us. The ultraviolet light destroys the DNA of the bacteria in the water, preventing them from reproducing. Without this system, we would have a constant problem with bacteria in Huntsville and drinking water.
What you need to do is make sure that your home has the proper filtration system in place. Many companies offer this service, so it will not be hard to find what you need. If you want the most affordable service, then you might want to check out the Huntsville water softener system, which will be able to soften the water in your home without you having to invest in an extensive water softener system. You will notice a massive difference in the quality of the water coming out of your tap.