Looking at federal compliance records for Chattanooga, TN: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Water Quality Map: Chattanooga, TN

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Overview

We track home safety data for 20 ZIP codes in Chattanooga, Tennessee (population ~213,011), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 383,248 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 15 of 20 ZIP codes.

4 of 15 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (27%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Chattanooga: B (82/100)

Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:

Factor	What It Measures
Water Quality	EPA violations and compliance history
PFAS MCL Screen	UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs
Radon Risk	EPA radon zone classification
Annual AQI	EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days

Water Sources

Chattanooga water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0012 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
• 0 of 15 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

20 of 20 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Top Contaminants

Areas with Most Violations

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Chattanooga

• 37401
• 37402 [B]
• 37403 [B]
• 37404 [B]
• 37405 [B]
• 37406 [B]
• 37407 [B]
• 37408 [B]
• 37409 [B]
• 37410 [B]
• 37411 [B]
• 37412 [B]
• 37414
• 37415 [B] - 1 violation
• 37416 [B] - 3 violations
• 37419 [B] - 7 violations
• 37421 [B] - 3 violations
• 37422
• 37424
• 37450

Data Sources

• Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
• Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
• Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Housing Age Profile

Lead can reach tap water from service lines, solder and brass fittings inside a building, which is why housing age draws attention in Chattanooga, where the median build year is 1963.

1963

Median Year Built

68%

Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)

52%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (52%) 1970–1986 (16%) Post-1986 (32%)

Over half of homes in Chattanooga were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Chattanooga Homeowners

Estimated remediation for Chattanooga is a small fraction of median property value - one percent or less - though the ratio does not describe any single household.

Median Home Value

$245,900

Est. Remediation

$500

Remediation as % of home value 0.2%

Estimated remediation costs in Chattanooga can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 10% above the Tennessee average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Chattanooga

68%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0012

mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in Chattanooga

1,517

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$22,060

Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data

75%

A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Chattanooga contains 1,517 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $22,060. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 75% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.

How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $500 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.

Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.

Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.