Albertville Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Albertville Utilities Board (AUB) serves over 29,000 residents in Albertville and surrounding areas including Boaz, Collinsville, Sardis, Guntersville, Asbury, and Northeast Alabama. The primary water source is surface water from the Short Creek portion of Lake Guntersville, treated at two facilities: a 12-MGD plant and a 9-MGD plant. The system relies on conventional surface water treatment to meet state and federal standards, drawing from this reservoir to supply the Sand Mountain region.

The Lake Guntersville watershed, part of the Tennessee River Valley, spans limestone-dominated terrains of the Appalachian foothills with underlying Ordovician Sequatchie and Silurian Red Mountain formations rich in carbonates. These rocks release minerals into the reservoir, yielding moderately mineralised water characteristic of the region's karst hydrology. The geology fosters a balanced mineral profile from surface runoff over dolomite and limestone, avoiding extreme hardness of deep aquifers elsewhere in Alabama.

Moderately hard water in Albertville leads to moderate scale buildup in appliances like water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines, reducing efficiency and lifespan over time with annual damages estimated at $1,130–1,980 per household. Soap lathering is somewhat reduced and spots may appear on glassware. Regular maintenance includes descaling fixtures, cleaning aerators, and flushing water heaters; a water softener is recommended to mitigate these effects. The water contains 9 detected contaminants, including bromodichloromethane at 3.69 ppb and gross alpha at 1.35 pCi/L above EPA MCLGs; lead precautions are advised for cold tap use.