Home hazard report for 35217 — Birmingham, AL
ZIP 35217 is served by Central Alabama Water: no health-based violations since 2016, latest lead result 1.2 ppb, PFAS 4 detected. Jefferson County is in EPA radon zone 2.
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
90th-percentile lead in the latest round (Jan 2024). Lead comes mostly from household plumbing and service lines, so individual homes can be higher.
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Predicted average indoor radon between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Test your home; many homes here exceed 4 pCi/L.
FEMA’s overall natural-hazard risk for this census tract, relative to the rest of the U.S.
The nearest active Superfund site is 4.0 miles away.
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Where ZIP 35217 is
Dashed: ZIP area · blue: utility service area · scroll or pinch to zoomDrinking water: Central Alabama Water
Health-based violations
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
Lead
90th-percentile lead per sampling round (90% of the homes sampled were at or below this level). Black line: EPA’s 15 ppb action level; under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 10 ppb from 2027.
PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
| Compound | Highest result | Samples with detection | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 11.3 ppt | 3 of 16 | — |
| PFHxA | 8.5 ppt | 2 of 16 | — |
| PFBS | 7.9 ppt | 4 of 16 | — |
| PFBA | 6.1 ppt | 1 of 16 | — |
| PFHpA | not detected | 0 of 16 | — |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | not detected | 0 of 16 | — |
| PFHxS | not detected | 0 of 16 | — |
| PFNA | not detected | 0 of 16 | — |
| PFOS | not detected | 0 of 16 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFOA | not detected | 0 of 16 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFDA | not detected | 0 of 16 | — |
EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), samples 2023–2025; ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were set by EPA in 2024; water systems have until the end of the decade to comply.
Radon in Jefferson County
EPA radon zone 2 — moderate potential. Predicted average indoor radon between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Test your home; many homes here exceed 4 pCi/L.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas from soil and rock, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above and considering it from 2 pCi/L. A short-term test kit costs about $15–30. How radon zones work →
Natural hazard risk
FEMA rates the overall natural-hazard risk of this neighborhood (census tract) as Relatively Moderate, with very high social vulnerability and relatively high community resilience.
FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025): expected annual losses from each hazard combined with social vulnerability and community resilience, rated relative to all U.S. census tracts. Hazards not listed are not applicable here. It describes the area, not a single building; flood insurance maps (FEMA FIRMs) decide flood-insurance requirements.
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Superfund sites nearby
| Site | Status | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 35th Avenue Birmingham, Alabama · EPA ID ALN000410750 | Proposed | 4.0 mi |
| Interstate Lead Co. (ILCO) Leeds, Alabama · EPA ID ALD041906173 | Active (final NPL) | 9.4 mi |
EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL): the country’s most serious known hazardous-waste sites, each with an EPA cleanup record (linked). Distance is measured from the ZIP center to the site’s reference point; being near a site does not by itself mean exposure — EPA site pages describe what was found and how it is being cleaned up.
What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.
Questions about 35217
Who supplies drinking water to ZIP 35217?
Central Alabama Water (EPA ID AL0000738), a surface water (rivers, lakes) system serving about 653,322 people.
Is there lead in Birmingham, AL tap water?
The utility’s latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2024) was 1.2 ppb; EPA’s action level is 15 ppb, falling to 10 ppb from 2027. Lead mostly comes from service lines and home plumbing, so the only way to know your tap is to test it.
Does Birmingham, AL water have PFAS?
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Has the water system in 35217 had violations?
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
What natural hazards affect ZIP 35217?
FEMA’s National Risk Index rates the overall natural-hazard risk here as Relatively Moderate; the highest-rated hazards are tornado (very high), lightning (relatively high), riverine flooding (relatively high).
Are there Superfund sites near 35217?
The nearest active Superfund site is 4.0 miles away. Sites within 10 miles: 35th Avenue (4.0 mi, Proposed); Interstate Lead Co. (ILCO) (9.4 mi, Active (final NPL)).
Is radon a problem in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County is in EPA radon zone 2 (moderate potential). Predicted average indoor radon between 2 and 4 pCi/L. Test your home; many homes here exceed 4 pCi/L.