Public water system · AL0000738
ActiveCentral Alabama Water System
At a glance
Central Alabama Water System (PWSID AL0000738) is an active community water system in Jefferson County, Alabama. It reports serving 585,000 people through 285,263 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
585,000
Service connections
285,263
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Central Alabama Water System compare with other water systems in Jefferson County?
By EPA's size categories, Central Alabama Water System is a very large system (more than 100,000 people). Jefferson County has 14 active public water systems, and Central Alabama Water System is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 10 times the county average of 57,665 people per system, and accounts for 72% 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 Central Alabama Water System is about 87 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. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 78 Alabama systems (14%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Central Alabama Water System?
EPA lists Central Alabama Water System 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 Central Alabama Water System have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. The violations listed here began between May 2009 and January 2026. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Lead and Copper Rule (2 of them). EPA lists 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Archived |
| 2026-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Archived |
| 2023-10-11 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2016-10-25 | Monitoring and reportingFollow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/R · code 52 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0800 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
All 6 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.
Central Alabama Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Central Alabama Water System?
Central Alabama Water System (PWSID AL0000738) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the AL state drinking water program.
How many people does Central Alabama Water System serve?
Central Alabama Water System reports serving 585,000 people through 285,263 service connections in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Where does Central Alabama Water System get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Central Alabama Water System have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. 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 Central Alabama Water System'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 6 violations for this system; none is health-based, and the most recent began in January 2026. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the AL state drinking water program.
Where can I find Central Alabama Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Central Alabama Water System 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bessemer Water Service | Jefferson | 86,091 | Community | Purchased 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, “Central Alabama Water System, PWSID AL0000738, Alabama”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/alabama/central-alabama-water-system-al0000738 (data as of October 1, 2026).