Updated 2026-10-15

County water report

Shelby County Water Quality: 6 Cities Ranked by the Records

Name: Shelby County Water Quality Data (2026)
Creator: PurityMap
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Shelby County, Alabama: 6 city reports built from EPA and utility records. A county has many suppliers; each city shows the system that serves it.

Find my system Open on the map Private wells in Shelby County

Across the county's systems

Highest result for each contaminant

One row per contaminant: the highest result any system in the county reported, against its limit. Open a row for the systems behind it.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)Detected in 3 systems of 6 tested4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest21 ng/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF21 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
PELHAM, CITY OF11.6 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF4 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARDNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)Detected in 4 systems of 6 tested4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest19 ng/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF19 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD16.7 ng/LSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF7 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
PELHAM, CITY OF5.6 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 4.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25

LithiumDetected in 2 systems of 6 tested10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit) · US EPAHighest12.4 µg/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF12.4 µg/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF9.9 µg/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 9.0 µg/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 9.0 µg/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARDNot detected · below 9.0 µg/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02
PELHAM, CITY OFNot detected · below 9.0 µg/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15

Lead (90th percentile)Detected in 4 systems of 6 tested15 µg/L federal action level · US EPAHighest10 µg/L

COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OF10 µg/LMonitoring period: 2021–2023
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD1.5 µg/LMonitoring period: 2023–2025
ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF1.1 µg/LMonitoring period: 2021–2023
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF1.1 µg/LMonitoring period: 2023–2025
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detectedMonitoring period: 2023–2025
PELHAM, CITY OFNot detectedMonitoring period: 2023–2025

Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)Detected in 3 systems of 6 tested10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) · US EPAHighest5.9 ng/L

MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD5.9 ng/LSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF5.3 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF3.4 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25
PELHAM, CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15

Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)Detected in 4 systems of 6 tested2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit) · US EPAHighest85 ng/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF85 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
PELHAM, CITY OF64.3 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF13 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD3 ng/LSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25

Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)Detected in 4 systems of 6 tested400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) · Michigan EGLEHighest19 ng/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF19 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
PELHAM, CITY OF18.5 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF5 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD4.3 ng/LSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25

Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)Detected in 3 systems of 6 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest15.4 ng/L

PELHAM, CITY OF15.4 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF14 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF5.7 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARDNot detected · below 5.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02

2 more contaminants detectedShow

Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)Detected in 2 systems of 6 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest6.5 ng/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF6.5 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
PELHAM, CITY OF5.5 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARDNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02

Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)Detected in 4 systems of 6 testedNo federal or state limit; shown for transparencyHighest33 ng/L

ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF33 ng/LSample date: 2024-07-17 to 2025-04-23
PELHAM, CITY OF32.2 ng/LSample date: 2024-12-16 to 2025-09-15
HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF7 ng/LSample date: 2025-03-20 to 2025-12-04
MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD5 ng/LSample date: 2024-03-04 to 2024-12-02
CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2024-07-08 to 2025-04-01
COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OFNot detected · below 3.0 ng/L lab reporting limitSample date: 2025-03-13 to 2025-09-25

21 PFAS tested, none detected in any systemShow

Tested in these 6 systems: ALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF, CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OF, COLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OF, HELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF, MONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD, PELHAM, CITY OF

11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)

6 cities

Cities ranked by the records

1
CaleraCALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OF
No PFAS detected
Open city report →
2
ColumbianaCOLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OF
No PFAS detectedLead below action level
Open city report →
3
HelenaHELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF
PFAS sample above a limitLead below action level
Open city report →
4
PelhamPELHAM, CITY OF
PFAS sample above a limit
Open city report →
5
AlabasterALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF
PFAS sample above a limitLead below action level
Open city report →
6
MontevalloMONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD
PFAS sample above a limitLead below action level
Open city report →

Showing 6 of 6 cities · scores are system-level, not tap tests

Ranked by the Purity Score of each city's main water system, highest first. Scores belong to water systems; there is no county score. The score is computed only from contaminants measured in the published EPA record, so this ranks the record, not which city's water is safest. How the score works.

PFAS in Shelby County4 of 6 city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit

Alabaster19 ng/L
Montevallo16.7 ng/L
Helena7 ng/L
Pelham5.6 ng/L

4.0 ng/L federal MCL · PFOS, ng/LPFAS in Alabama

Lead

0of 6 cities above the 15 µg/L action level

Based on each system's 90th-percentile result. Lead from household plumbing isn't in this record.

Lead in Alabama

Who supplies the county

Largest water systems

AlabasterALABASTER WATER DEPARTMENT, CITY OF · AL0001148
40,986 served
PelhamPELHAM, CITY OF · AL0001163
38,703 served
CaleraCALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OF · AL0001150
26,982 served
HelenaHELENA, THE UB OF THE CITY OF · AL0001157
21,300 served
ColumbianaCOLUMBIANA, THE WW BOARD OF THE TOWN OF · AL0001151
12,903 served
MontevalloMONTEVALLO WATER WORKS & SEWER BOARD · AL0001160
10,746 served

Questions

Frequently asked

How does Shelby County tap water compare across cities?

PurityMap ranks 6 cities in Shelby County by the Purity Score of each city's main water system, computed only from contaminants measured in the published EPA record. Scores belong to water systems, not to cities. The highest published score is Calera's main water system: CALERA, THE WWB OF TE CITY OF · PWSID AL0001150 · Purity Score 100 (Excellent) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level. The ranking compares the records, not which city's water is safest, and your own tap can differ with household plumbing.

How many Shelby County cities had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit?

4 of 6 Shelby County city reports had a PFAS sample above a 2024 EPA limit in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, including Alabaster (PFOA 21 ng/L), Montevallo (PFOS 16.7 ng/L), Pelham (PFOA 11.6 ng/L). That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. PFAS were detected at any level in 4.

Is there lead in Shelby County tap water?

Utilities report lead as a 90th-percentile result from home taps. 4 of 6 Shelby County cities reported a value above zero, and none was above the 15 µg/L federal action level. Lead usually comes from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you what you drink.

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