COUNTY REPORT TN

Clay County, Tennessee

3 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-07-19

ZipCheckup grade for Clay: B.

This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.

Based on current EPA data, Clay County's 3 ZIP codes maintain an above-average drinking water safety record.

How Clay County Compares

Clay County71/100
Tennessee avg69/100
National avg68/100

How Clay County Compares

B
County Grade
71/100
Avg Safety Score
3
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems

Clay County scores 2 points above the Tennessee state average (69/100) and 3 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-07-19

B
County Grade
71
Avg Safety Score
3
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 38551 (78/100)
Lowest ZIP: 38588 (63/100)
$153K
Median Home Value
$2,100
Avg Remediation (138% of home value)

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 17.8 (asthma 11.3%, diabetes 17.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,143, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.383% avg pipe failure probability, 33% of ZIPs at high risk

58.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Clay County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
2 (2 health)
2025
8 (8 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 10 total (10 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 17.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.7% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1984
Median Build Year
58.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
38%
Pipe Failure Probability
33%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,143

Flood $800/yr
Energy Code Gap $360/yr
Water Infrastructure $150/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

3,303 housing units in Clay County

Pre-1940 8%
1940–1959 9%
1960–1979 29%
1980–1999 35%
2000+ 19%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Clay County

$153K
Median Home Value
$2,100
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Clay County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Clay County residents

Asthma 11.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 17.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water systems serving Clay County

4 community water systems serving Clay County.

Systems with the most violations in Clay County

2 water systems with recorded EPA violations.

All ZIP Codes in Clay County

3 ZIP codes tracked in Clay County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 38551 Celina 78 B 1 $122K
2 38575 Moss 72 B 5 (3 health) $153K
3 38588 Whitleyville 63 C 0 $170K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Clay County

Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around - the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.

Overview

Clay County in Tennessee covers 3 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (71/100).

2 of 3 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Tennessee water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Clay County?
Clay County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 3 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Clay County?
Clay County is served by 4 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 3 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Clay County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Clay County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,143 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Clay County?
The median home build year in Clay County is 1984. 58.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Clay County compare to Tennessee?
Clay County has an average water safety score of 71/100, which is above the Tennessee state average of 69/100.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Clay County, TN: 3 Health Violations - 71/100 (2026). https://zipcheckup.com/county/tennessee/clay/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-county-tennessee-clay,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Clay County, TN: 3 Health Violations - 71/100 (2026)}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/county/tennessee/clay/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

Get safety alerts for Clay, Tennessee

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool - no phone call required.