PFAS in Huntsville Utilities water (Alabama)
Elevated — PFOA/PFOS detected above the federal reference level
Based on highest single EPA UCMR 5 detections (2023–2025). Not a compliance or health determination.
Huntsville Utilities is a large public water system serving more than 10,000 people in Alabama (ZIP codes 35801, 35802, 35803, 35804, 35805, 35806, …). EPA UCMR 5 monitoring (2023–2025) detected 6 PFAS compounds in its water, the highest being PFBA at 11 ppt. This includes PFOA at 4.7 ppt and PFOS at 9 ppt. This page shows every detected level and the certified filters that reduce PFAS.
What was detected
Each figure is the highest single detected level recorded for that compound — not an average.
| PFAS compound | Highest detected level | Context |
|---|---|---|
| PFBA | 11 ppt | — |
| PFOS | 9 ppt | above reference — federal reference level: 4 ppt |
| PFBS | 6.2 ppt | — |
| PFPeA | 5.3 ppt | — |
| PFOA | 4.7 ppt | above reference — federal reference level: 4 ppt |
| PFHxA | 4.4 ppt | — |
For context, the U.S. EPA has set a federal reference level of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and for PFOS; it is shown beside those compounds above purely as a reference point.
How to reduce PFAS in this water
Your only flagged issue is PFAS / PFOA / PFOS, which harms you through what you drink — not through bathing or showering. A certified under-sink reverse-osmosis system (~$300–$600) is the correct, certified way to remove it. A $1,500–$4,000 whole-house system would be overkill here and still wouldn’t be the certified method for these contaminants.
Certified point-of-use filters (the practical, certified fix)
- ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
- ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
Tankless under-sink reverse osmosis, certified to NSF/ANSI 58 (RO) and 372. Some configurations add NSF 42/53 — confirm the exact SKU's listing before making a contaminant-specific claim.
If you want PFAS reduced at every tap (optional)
Point-of-use reverse osmosis above is the default, certified answer for PFAS. If you specifically want reduction at every tap, these are the whole-house units with a genuine third-party certification for PFOA/PFOS — an optional add-on, not a necessity.
- ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
- ✓ Certified to reduce PFOA/PFOS (for PFOA/PFOS; current certifications do not yet guarantee removal to EPA’s newest limits).
Other Alabama water systems tested
EPA UCMR 5 also detected PFOA or PFOS at or above 6 ppt in these large Alabama systems: