Public water system · AL0000737
ActiveBessemer Water Service
At a glance
Bessemer Water Service (PWSID AL0000737) is an active community water system in Jefferson County, Alabama. It reports serving 86,091 people through 28,699 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
86,091
Service connections
28,699
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Bessemer Water Service compare with other water systems in Jefferson County?
By EPA's size categories, Bessemer Water Service is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Jefferson County has 14 active public water systems, and Bessemer Water Service is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 49% above the county average of 57,665 people per system, and accounts for 11% of the 807,308 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Alabama, the 576 active systems average 11,028 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Bessemer Water Service is about 13 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Alabama has 505 active community water systems, 88% of the state's 576 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 152 Alabama systems (26%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Bessemer Water Service?
EPA lists Bessemer Water Service as owned by a local government. The AL state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 10 of the 14 active systems in Jefferson County (71%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Bessemer Water Service have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between May 1991 and October 2024. By type: 5 monitoring and reporting, 1 reporting and 1 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 4 as resolved, 2 as archived and 1 as unaddressed. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-17 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2022-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1994-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
| 1991-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
All 7 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Bessemer Water Service: frequently asked questions
Who runs Bessemer Water Service?
Bessemer Water Service (PWSID AL0000737) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the AL state drinking water program.
How many people does Bessemer Water Service serve?
Bessemer Water Service reports serving 86,091 people through 28,699 service connections in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Where does Bessemer Water Service get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Bessemer Water Service have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Bessemer Water Service's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 7 violations for this system; 1 is health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the AL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Bessemer Water Service's water quality report?
As a community water system, Bessemer Water Service must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Jefferson County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Alabama Water System | Jefferson | 585,000 | Community | Surface water |
| Warrior River Water Authority | Jefferson | 38,700 | Community | Surface water |
| Trussville, Ub of the City of | Jefferson | 36,300 | Community | Groundwater |
| Leeds Water Works Board | Jefferson | 21,300 | Community | Groundwater |
| Irondale Water System | Jefferson | 10,098 | Community | Groundwater |
| Graysville Water Board | Jefferson | 9,288 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Bessemer Water Service, PWSID AL0000737, Alabama”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/alabama/bessemer-water-service-al0000737 (data as of October 1, 2026).