Auburn, AL Water Quality (ZIP 36831)

Quick Answers

Is ZIP 36831 tap water safe to drink? PFAS compounds have been detected in 36831's water at an average of 4 ppt across 2 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended, especially for sensitive populations.

What filter should I use in 36831? Match the filter to the data: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together; NSF-53 pitchers cover the taps you drink from. A basic Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.

ZIP 36831 Water Quality Summary

EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in the water system serving ZIP 36831 (Auburn, AL). Monitoring found a peak of 4.8 ppt across 1 system, averaging 4 ppt over 2 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.

Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.

Top Detected Compounds in ZIP 36831

• PFOA: 4.8 ppt (exceeds the EPA 4 ppt limit)
• PFPEA: 3.2 ppt

Lead in ZIP 36831 Water

EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing recorded 3 lead samples for the system serving 36831, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.005 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; homes built before 1986 should use a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead filter.

EPA Violations Affecting ZIP 36831

The water system serving 36831 have 2 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM). A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.

About the Data

These figures come from EPA UCMR5 (2023-2025) plus Lead and Copper Rule and SDWIS records for the public water system serving ZIP 36831. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history.