What was found in Selma's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1900 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 912 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 479.4 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 202.5 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 242 µg/L — NORTH DALLAS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 8,838 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 63.14999999999995 µg/L 4.9% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 22 µg/L 147% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 17.990000000000002 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 10.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 17.3 µg/L — NORTH DALLAS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 8,838 people · 2025 | 2/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 2.612 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.359999999999996 µg/L — DALLAS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY · 4,152 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | 10.3 pCi/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: NORTH DALLAS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 8,838 people · 2016 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 3.5999999999999996 pCi/L 24% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.689999999999996 pCi/L — NORTH DALLAS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 8,838 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.1655 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2.8419999999999996 µg/L — DALLAS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY · 4,152 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.6400 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2.1229999999999998 µg/L — DALLAS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY · 4,152 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 0.5300 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1.7014999999999996 µg/L — DALLAS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY · 4,152 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.4000 pCi/L 8% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: NORTH DALLAS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 8,838 people · 2016 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0017 mg/L 11% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF · 21,834 people · 2025 | 3/3 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Selma
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SELMA, THE WW AND SB OF THE CITY OF | 21,834 |
| NORTH DALLAS COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY | 8,838 |
| DALLAS COUNTY WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY | 4,152 |
Frequently asked questions about Selma tap water
Is Selma tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 16 contaminants in the water serving Selma. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Selma?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Selma, Alabama to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Selma's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Selma include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.