Tennessee
Water quality data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
Water Systems
6,170
Active public water systems
Population Served
8.07M
Residents with piped water
Lead Violations
12
Systems exceeding 15 ppb
Copper Violations
88
Lead & Copper Rule
Average Lead Level
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb
MCLG (health goal): 0 ppb
Average across 730 systems with reported lead data.
Violations Detected
100 water systems in Tennessee have reported violations under the Lead and Copper Rule. These utilities are required to notify customers and take corrective action.
Water Systems: Highest Lead Levels
| System Name | City | Population | Lead Level | Status | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEW TAZEWELL | 16,135 | 12.00 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| MUNFORD | 19,599 | 9.07 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| MEMPHIS | 42,150 | 8.00 ppb | OK | 1992-12-31 | |
| GLADEVILLE | 19,813 | 7.46 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| NOLENSVILLE | 32,793 | 6.17 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| MEMPHIS | 659,500 | 4.73 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| NASHVILLE | 64,359 | 4.72 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| CLINTON | 10,446 | 4.20 ppb | OK | 2010-12-31 | |
| MARTIN | 11,918 | 4.16 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| MARYVILLE | 53,864 | 4.01 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| TOWNSEND | 14,522 | 4.00 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| KNOXVILLE | 41,311 | 3.64 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| NEW TAZEWELL | 10,037 | 3.53 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| LAFAYETTE | 21,551 | 3.01 ppb | OK | 2025-12-31 | |
| NASHVILLE | 28,934 | 3.00 ppb | OK | 1993-06-30 |
Showing top 15 of 670 systems with lead data. Action level: 15 ppb.
Systems With Active Violations
These water systems have exceeded EPA limits and must take corrective action.
CHATTANOOGA · Pop. 211,499
Lead: 1.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
GERMANTOWN · Pop. 37,738
Lead: 1.90 ppb (2025-12-31)
LENOIR CITY · Pop. 34,786
Lead: 1.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
NOLENSVILLE · Pop. 32,793
Lead: 6.17 ppb (2025-12-31)
GEORGETOWN · Pop. 30,571
Lead: 1.80 ppb (2025-12-31)
HOHENWALD · Pop. 12,475
Lead: 1.00 ppb (2025-12-31)
Water Source Types
Air Quality
GoodAvg AQI
46.2
PM2.5
6.5 µg/m³
Unhealthy Days
7
Primary Pollutant
Ozone
Source: EPA AirNow & American Lung Association 2024 State of the Air. AQI scale: 0–50 Good · 51–100 Moderate · 101–150 Sensitive Groups · 151+ Unhealthy.
PFAS Contamination
Moderate DetectionPFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as “forever chemicals,” are a group of synthetic chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment and human body. The EPA set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in April 2024. View national PFAS tracker →
Systems Tested
248
PFAS Detected
88
Detection Rate
35.5%
Exceeding MCL (4 ppt)
14(5.6%)
Highest recorded level: 42 ppt (EPA MCL: 4 ppt). Chemical manufacturing sites; TVA-adjacent contamination