Nashville, TN: 117 Violations — 62/100 (2026)
39 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
For most households in Nashville, TN tap water is adequate — the middle-tier grade reflects gaps in specific service areas.
How Nashville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Nashville, TN
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Nashville score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Nashville Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 117 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0008 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $2,292 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.93.
Who Supplies Your Water in Nashville
Federal drinking water records identify 5 systems in Nashville, TN. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 39 ZIP codes in Nashville, Tennessee (population ~475,253), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 1,041,031 people region-wide.
39 of 39 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Nashville: C (62/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Nashville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0008 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 39 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 80 | 39 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 40 | 39 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37201 | C | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37202 | C | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37203 | C | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37204 | D | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37205 | D | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37206 | C | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37207 | D | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37208 | C | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37209 | D | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
| 37210 | C | 3 | 0 | Metro Water Services |
All ZIP Codes in Nashville
- 37201 [C] — 3 violations
- 37202 [C] — 3 violations
- 37203 [C] — 3 violations
- 37204 [D] — 3 violations
- 37205 [D] — 3 violations
- 37206 [C] — 3 violations
- 37207 [D] — 3 violations
- 37208 [C] — 3 violations
- 37209 [D] — 3 violations
- 37210 [C] — 3 violations
- 37211 [D] — 3 violations
- 37212 [C] — 3 violations
- 37213 [C] — 3 violations
- 37214 [D] — 3 violations
- 37215 [D] — 3 violations
- 37216 [C] — 3 violations
- 37217 [C] — 3 violations
- 37218 [D] — 3 violations
- 37219 [C] — 3 violations
- 37220 [C] — 3 violations
- 37221 [C] — 3 violations
- 37222 [C] — 3 violations
- 37224 [C] — 3 violations
- 37227 [C] — 3 violations
- 37228 [C] — 3 violations
- 37229 [C] — 3 violations
- 37230 [C] — 3 violations
- 37232 [C] — 3 violations
- 37234 [C] — 3 violations
- 37235 [C] — 3 violations
- 37236 [C] — 3 violations
- 37238 [C] — 3 violations
- 37240 [C] — 3 violations
- 37241 [C] — 3 violations
- 37242 [C] — 3 violations
- 37243 [C] — 3 violations
- 37244 [C] — 3 violations
- 37246 [C] — 3 violations
- 37250 [C] — 3 violations
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
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Nashville
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Nashville Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Nashville Homeowners
Placing remediation in the context of Nashville's property market, the equity share is low — most homeowners here are weighing a financial commitment that fits comfortably within routine property planning, far from the threshold where remediation becomes a material equity decision rather than a standard upkeep consideration.
Remediation costs in Nashville are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,549–$3,115 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 87% above the Tennessee average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Nashville
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Lead risk in Nashville appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Nashville
The NFIP record for Nashville is not ambiguous: 3749 claims filed and 59% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood territory add up to a substantial flood exposure profile. For a water quality assessment, that profile matters because flooding doesn't just damage property — it can temporarily compromise the systems that deliver safe drinking water, from overwhelmed treatment plants to infiltrated private wells to backflow events in distribution infrastructure.
Nashville has a significant flood history with 3,749 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $68,885 per claim. With 59% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,292</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Nashville
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Nashville's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Nashville, TN