Toxin Scout

Air quality and drinking water coverage in Pelham, AL

Review government records associated with Pelham, Alabama.

Toxin Scout is in beta. Please verify important findings with the linked sources.

What the Pelham records show

Water quality and PFAS
1 candidate water system shown.Source date: Violations as of Q1 2026
Air quality and emissions
3 monitoring records shown. Observation year: 2025.Source date: AQS data as of 2026
Land and cleanup records
No Superfund records returned in this report; No brownfield records returned in this report.
Infrastructure and incidents
3 pipeline incident records shown; 3 RMP facility records shown (earlier stored inventory, current location coverage unverified).Source date: PHMSA data as of Q1 2026

Water quality in Pelham

Drinking water quality

Check your water bill for your utility name and confirm the reporting year. See EPA’s guide to finding your annual water quality report.

Drinking Water Compliance

Public water-system records for Pelham, AL from EPA SDWIS.

Pelham Water Works

PFAS above an official threshold detected in available EPA records.

Reviewed: active/open records as of Q1 2026

Purchased or imported water record · Serves 38,703 people

Data from EPA SDWIS

PFAS Screening

6

PFAS screening separates EPA UCMR5 drinking-water monitoring from nearby DoD PFAS investigation-site records; EPA samples shown are from Dec 2024 to Sep 2025.

Drinking Water PFAS Monitoring

EPA UCMR5 samples public water systems. These results are separate from nearby PFAS cleanup or investigation-site records.

Open data source: EPA UCMR5

6 PFAS sample results above EPA limits

Sample period: Dec 2024 to Jul 2025

UCMR5 results are sampled by public water system, not every household. Confirm your water provider before treating these as tap-water results for a specific address.

ChemicalConcentration (µg/L)EPA Limit (µg/L)Sample dateOver Limit
PFOA0.01160.00402024-12-16Yes
PFOA0.00680.00402025-07-21Yes
PFOA0.00570.00402025-03-03Yes
PFOS0.00560.00402024-12-16Yes
PFOS0.00520.00402025-06-04Yes
PFOS0.00440.00402024-12-16Yes

PFAS detections below EPA limits.

Nearby PFAS Investigation Sites

DoD records are nearby site investigations, not Pelham drinking-water detections. Record names come from the source database and can be broad.

Open data source: DoD PFAS

No DoD PFAS investigation records shown for this report.

Rivers, lakes and groundwater

Impaired Water Bodies

No health-relevant impairment records shown among the assessment records in this report.

Reviewed: source records as of 2026

Discharge

Discharge Permits (NPDES)

3

NPDES permits regulate pollutant discharges into U.S. waterways. Facilities must report compliance quarterly.

Open data source: EPA ECHO

Violation records

Nichols Concrete Holdings, LLC - Pelham Plant

Last inspected: Dec 2025

Open data source: EPA ECHO
Status: Violation Identified · 6 of 12 quarters with noncompliance

Data from EPA ECHO

To investigate water contamination, check the sampling locations, dates and results below. For tap water records, see Drinking water quality above.

Water Quality MonitoringThis report includes 3 monitoring station records from the Water Quality Portal. It identified no recent results above an applicable comparison value. Some stations may lack recent or comparable results.

Reviewed: source records as of 2026

Open data source: Water Quality Portal

Air quality and emissions in Pelham

Review historical EPA air pollution records, including monitoring and facility emissions where available. For current conditions, check local air quality on AirNow.

Air Quality Assessment

EPA AirToxScreen — Estimated Cancer Risk

1
40estimated additional cancer cases per million people

Shelby County

Assessment year: 2020

Open data source: EPA AirToxScreen
Lower risk95th percentile nationallyHigher risk

According to EPA, a cancer risk of 40-in-1-million means that for every 1 million people continuously exposed to these air toxics over a 70-year lifetime, an estimated 40 may develop cancer from that exposure. This is in addition to cancer risk from all other causes.

Top modeled source groups

Wildfires & prescribed burnsFactories & power plants

Data from EPA AirToxScreen

Nonattainment Status

EPA designates an area as nonattainment when air quality does not meet federal health-based standards (NAAQS) for a specific pollutant.

Maintenance areas

Previously nonattainment; currently meeting the standard and monitored under an EPA maintenance plan.

Birmingham

PM2.5 · PM-2.5 (1997 Standard)

Classification: Former Subpart 1

Original designation: Apr 2005

Current design value: 9.6 µg/m³ (2023-2025)

Open data source: EPA Area Detail

Historical designations under the revoked 1997 ozone standard

These records describe historical designations. EPA revoked the 1997 ozone standard on April 6, 2015.

Birmingham Area

Historical standard: 0.08 ppm (8-hour)

Historical designation: Maintenance · Former Subpart 1

Original designation: Jun 2004

Open data source: EPA final revocation rule

Continuing requirements have not been verified for this area.

Data from EPA Green Book

Air Quality Monitoring (AQS)

EPA annual monitor summaries describe past measurements. For current air quality, see AirNow.

Arkadelphia/near Road — Birmingham, Alabama

Open data source: EPA AQS
CO

Annual mean: 0.2 Parts per million

Observation year: 2025

NO2

Annual mean: 24.9 Parts per billion

Observation year: 2025

PM2.5

Annual mean: 9.2 Micrograms/cubic meter (LC)

Includes measurements flagged for exceptional events.

Observation year: 2025

Data from EPA AQS

Facilities & Emissions
Air Quality Violations (CAA)No matching Clean Air Act-regulated facility records surfaced for this city report.

Reviewed: source records as of Q4 2025

Open data source: Search EPA ECHO

Reported Air Emissions (TRI)

6

TRI releases are self-reported annual totals (calendar year 2024). Hover fugitive or stack for definitions.

Avanti Polar Lipids Inc

Reported: 2024

Open data source: View EPA TRI facility record
Chloroform
1,733.00 lbs
Methanol
840.70 lbs
Toluene
52.60 lbs
n-Hexane
50.90 lbs
Total air: 2,677.20 lbsFugitive: 2,677.20 lbs

Forterra Pipe & Precast - Pelham Prestress

Reported: 2024

Open data source: View EPA TRI facility record
Lead
0.07 lbs
Total air: 0.07 lbsFugitive: 0.06 lbsStack: 0.002 lbs

Georgia Masonry Supply Pelham

Reported: 2024

Open data source: View EPA TRI facility record
Lead And Lead Compounds
0.02 lbs
Total air: 0.02 lbsStack: 0.02 lbs

Land cleanup and hazardous waste records in Pelham

Contaminated Sites
Superfund SitesNo matching Superfund site records surfaced for this report.

Reviewed: source query run Nov 2026

Open data source: Search EPA ECHO
Brownfield Sites (EPA ACRES)No matching brownfield site records surfaced for this city report in the EPA ACRES database.

Reviewed: source query run Nov 2026

Open data source: Search EPA ECHO
Waste Facilities

Hazardous Waste — RCRA Handlers

3

Facilities with hazardous-waste handler records under RCRA in the reviewed 5-mile city-center search area. Active handler status is separate from air, water, or other ECHO compliance violations, which are shown in their own sections.

Active RCRA handler records in the reviewed city search area

Hanson Pipe & Products Southeast Inc Pelham
Open data source: EPA ECHO
Status: Active hazardous-waste handler record
Active handler·Last RCRA inspection: Nov 28, 2023
Loader Services & Equipment Inc
Open data source: EPA ECHO
Status: Active hazardous-waste handler record
Active handler·Last RCRA inspection: Dec 5, 2024
Nichols Concrete Holdings, LLC - Pelham Plant
Open data source: EPA ECHO
Status: Active hazardous-waste handler record
Active handler·Last RCRA inspection: Jun 13, 2023

Underground Storage Tanks

No release reports shown in this group.

Reviewed: active/open records as of 2018

Data from EPA UST Finder

On-Site Waste Disposal (TRI)No TRI-reported on-site land disposal records surfaced for this city report.

Reviewed: reporting year 2024

Open data source: Search EPA ECHO
Military & Industrial
Formerly Used Defense SitesNo USACE FUDS property records matched this report’s search area.
Open data source: USACE FUDS

MSHA Mine and Extraction Sites

No MSHA mine or extraction site records shown for this report.

Open data source: MSHA Data Retrieval
Hydraulic Fracturing WellsNo hydraulic fracturing well disclosure records surfaced for this city report.
Open data source: FracFocus Search
Radon Context

County radon potential

1
EPA Zone 2Moderate radon potential

Shelby County, AL

EPA Radon Zone Map (June 2024 release)

Open data source: EPA radon zone data

Shelby County is EPA Radon Zone 2 (moderate potential). EPA defines Zone 2 counties as having predicted average indoor screening levels between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.

Radon levels can vary from home to home, so EPA recommends testing the property to know its indoor level.

Find radon testing in ALZone classification per EPA Map of Radon Zones.

Infrastructure, incidents, and community health in Pelham

FEMA Flood Zones

FEMA flood zones describe mapped flood hazards. Look up a specific address with FEMA.

No FEMA flood-zone records shown for this report.

Chemical & Industrial Risk
Data as of Mar 2026

EPA Risk Management Program Records

Results use an earlier stored RMP inventory. Current EPA ECHO location coverage is unverified.

EPA ECHO lists facilities linked to the Risk Management Program. Results include facilities with locations that can be matched. Records may be historical. Current operations, chemical inventories, and recent accident history are unverified.

Nuclear Facilities (NRC)No NRC-licensed nuclear facility records surfaced for this city report.
Open data source: NRC Reactor Map

Pipeline Incidents

1

PHMSA tracks incidents involving natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. Incidents include leaks, ruptures, and explosions.

Recent Incidents (last 5 years)

COLONIAL PIPELINE CO

Incident date: Jun 12, 2024

Open data source: PHMSA Data
Type
Hazardous Liquid
Cause
EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Released
REFINED AND/OR PETROLEUM PRODUCT (NON-HVL) WHICH IS A LIQUID AT AMBIENT CONDITIONS

Property damage: $100,000

Data from PHMSA

Community Health

Community Health Indicators

Health outcomes from County Health Rankings. Values shown alongside state and national averages.

Shelby County, AlabamaPop. 230,115

County Health Rankings edition: 2024

Premature Death

County
6,593
State
11,416
National
7,972

Poor or Fair Health

County
12.8%
State
17.8%
National
14.2%

Poor Physical Health Days

County
3.1
State
3.9
National
3.3

Poor Mental Health Days

County
4.9
State
5.9
National
4.8

Adult Smoking

County
12.7%
State
17.9%
National
15.0%

Adult Obesity

County
33.3%
State
40.6%
National
34.0%

Air Pollution - Particulate Matter

County
10.6
State
9.3
National
7.3

Drinking water violation indicator

County
No
State
N/A
National
N/A

Diabetes Prevalence

County
8.9%
State
13.3%
National
9.6%

Life Expectancy

County
79.6
State
73.7
National
77.6

Environmental questions about Pelham, Alabama

Has PFAS been found in the water in Pelham, Alabama?

EPA testing found PFAS in water samples from Pelham Water Works. Results dated Dec 16, 2024 to Sep 15, 2025 include PFBS at 0.0036 to 0.0643 micrograms per liter and PFPeA at 0.003 to 0.0322 micrograms per liter.

Check with the utility that serves your address for its testing results.

EPA water testing results

What do EPA records say about tap water in Pelham, Alabama?

The EPA drinking water records available here list no violations for Pelham Water Works.

Check your water bill to identify the utility serving your address. Ask that utility about current drinking water advisories.

View on EPA SDWIS

What do annual air monitors show near Pelham, Alabama?

Nearby EPA monitoring stations provide annual air quality measurements for Pelham.

The monitoring station at Arkadelphia/Near Road, Birmingham, Alabama recorded an annual average of 0.2 Parts per million for carbon monoxide in 2025.

The monitoring station at Arkadelphia/Near Road, Birmingham, Alabama recorded an annual average of 24.9 Parts per billion for nitrogen dioxide in 2025.

The monitoring station at Arkadelphia/Near Road, Birmingham, Alabama recorded an annual average of 9.2 Micrograms/cubic meter (LC) for fine particles (PM2.5) in 2025.

Download 2025 EPA annual monitor dataCurrent air quality on AirNow

Is there radon in Pelham, Alabama?

The radon data for Pelham covers Shelby County. EPA places this area in Zone 2, with a predicted average indoor radon screening level of 2 to 4 picocuries per liter.

EPA Radon Zones data

Are there Superfund or brownfield sites near Pelham, Alabama?

No Superfund or brownfield sites were returned for this city report.

EPA Superfund recordsEPA brownfield records

What is the life expectancy in Pelham, Alabama?

The county data for Pelham reports a life expectancy of 79.6 years in Shelby County, Alabama.

The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.

Shelby County health data

What does the data say about premature deaths in Pelham, Alabama?

The county data for Pelham reports 6,593 years of life lost to deaths before age 75 per 100,000 residents in Shelby County, Alabama. This measure adds up the years lost to early deaths and adjusts for differences in population age.

The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.

Shelby County health data

Is there air pollution in Pelham, Alabama?

The county data for Pelham lists fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) at 10.6 micrograms per cubic meter in Shelby County, Alabama.

The figure is from the 2024 edition of County Health Rankings, a University of Wisconsin program that publishes county health statistics.

Shelby County health data

What environmental incidents are recorded near Pelham, Alabama?

Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Colonial Pipeline Co near Pelham on Jun 12, 2024. The reported release was a liquid petroleum product.

Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Alabama Gas Corporation near Pelham on Jan 1, 2011. The reported release was natural gas.

Federal pipeline records list an incident involving Colonial Pipeline Co near Pelham on Apr 9, 2013. The reported release was a liquid petroleum product.

View PHMSA flagged incident dataset