Alabama
Decatur
PFAS detected in your water, but all levels are below 50% of federal limits.
- Population served
- 107K
- Systems tested
- 2
- Compounds detected
- 58
- Above federal limits
- 0
Source: EPA UCMR 5 · Samples collected 2023–2026
What was found in Decatur’s water
DECATUR (MUNICIPAL UTILITIES BOARD OF)
Serves 77K people · SW
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
WEST MORGAN-EAST LAWRENCE WATER AUTHORIT
Serves 30K people · SW
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
About PFAS contamination in Decatur
## Summary Decatur's drinking water received an overall grade of B, suggesting the city's water systems are performing relatively well but are not without concern. The data covers two water systems — the Municipal Utilities Board of Decatur and the West Morgan-East Lawrence Water Authority — both of which detected multiple PFAS compounds, though no specific concentration levels were reported in this dataset. Because actual concentrations were not disclosed, it is not possible to confirm whether any compounds exceeded their federal limits, including the EPA's 4 parts per trillion limit for PFOA and PFOS. The contamination source has been identified as 3M and Daikin manufacturing operations in the area.
## What the data shows Between the two water systems, a combined total of roughly 25 PFAS compounds were detected across both systems, including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHxS — all of which carry federal EPA limits. The Municipal Utilities Board detected 15 compounds, while West Morgan-East Lawrence detected 15 compounds, with some overlap. Because concentrations were not reported in this data, it is unclear how these levels compare numerically to federal thresholds of 4–10 parts per trillion. The West Morgan-East Lawrence system received a higher grade of A compared to the Municipal Utilities Board's B.
## What residents should know Residents should contact their specific water utility directly — either the Municipal Utilities Board of Decatur or West Morgan-East Lawrence — to request the most current testing results and actual concentration figures. A $98 million settlement with 3M has been reached, which may provide resources for remediation efforts in this environmental justice community. For the latest information, visit your utility's website or call their customer service line.
About this summary: Narrative text on this page was drafted by an AI model (claude-sonnet-4-6) from EPA UCMR 5 data and reviewed before publication. The numeric data above is reported by water utilities directly to the EPA. If you spot an error, email data@checkyourwater.org.
What Decatur residents can do
PFAS were detected in Decatur's water but levels are well below federal limits. Steps to maintain awareness:
- Read your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — request a copy if you don't receive one.
- Sign up for water quality alerts from your utility.
- If you're on a private well, get it independently tested for PFAS.
- Reduce PFAS exposure from non-water sources: avoid non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and grease-resistant food packaging.
Primary contamination source: 3M/Daikin manufacturing
Settlement information: 3M $98M settlement; environmental justice community
How Decatur compares
Decatur is part of our launch coverage of communities where EPA UCMR 5 testing has detected PFAS in drinking water.
Where this data comes from
- Testing program: EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle (UCMR 5)
- Testing period: 2023–2026
- Federal limits: EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) finalized April 2024
- Methodology: Read how we calculate grades
- Raw EPA data: EPA UCMR Occurrence Data
This data reflects EPA testing. Your water utility may have more recent results — contact them directly for the most current information.