Clay County, Tennessee
3 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Based on current EPA data, Clay County's 3 ZIP codes maintain an above-average drinking water safety record.
How Clay County Compares
How Clay County Compares
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: 2026-06-03
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 17.8 (asthma 11.3%, diabetes 17.5%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $993, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.327% avg pipe failure probability
58.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Clay County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
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
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $993
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
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
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
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 4 systems in Clay County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Celina Water System | 5,510 | 6 |
| 2 | Northwest Clay County Utility | 4,437 | 5 |
| 3 | North Overton Utility District | 4,729 | 1 |
| 4 | Jackson County U.d. #1 | 686 | 1 |
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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 58.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
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
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.