Birmingham
Birmingham, AL water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
central alabama water system
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID AL0000738
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 212,461 residents, Birmingham ranks as the largest city in Alabama and a mid-sized city. Water in Birmingham is sourced chiefly from Tennessee River, Mobile River basin, and groundwater, the backbone of Alabama's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. Abundant rainfall keeps supply pressure low, but aging systems and industrial contamination drive most water concerns.
Statewide, Alabama recycles about 6% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Birmingham faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The Alabama state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Birmingham's water future.
Jefferson County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~212,461 (largest in Alabama)
- Primary sources: Tennessee River, Mobile River basin, and groundwater
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~6% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Alabama in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Birmingham?
Birmingham's largest water system, CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM, serves about 585,000 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.8 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Birmingham get its water?
CENTRAL ALABAMA WATER SYSTEM draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Alabama's supply from Tennessee River, Mobile River basin, groundwater.
Related water issues
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore