Newport, TN Water Safety: 81/100 (2026)
2 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Public water monitoring in Newport shows a safety record well above the TN median — health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.
How Newport Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Newport Water
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,650 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 17.58 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Newport
Water delivery in Newport, TN is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 4 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Newport, Tennessee (population ~22,113), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 66,347 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Newport — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Newport: B (81/100)
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
Newport water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37821 | B | Newport Utilities Board | 34,925 |
| 37822 | B | Newport Utilities Board | 34,925 |
All ZIP Codes in Newport
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 Newport
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
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Newport Homeowners
Property equity in Newport sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs — a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Newport. The estimated $900–$2,800 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 43% below the Tennessee average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Newport
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 Newport 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 Newport
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Newport, that record documents 43 claims and 50% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Newport has a moderate flood history with 43 FEMA claims averaging $85,436 per payout. 50% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$1,650</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Newport, TN