Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT

Shelby County School District Water Quality (TN) - A

38 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · 21,885,139 people served · Updated 2026-07-23

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Shelby County School District: 3 unresolved violations in the water systems serving this district.

Data: EPA SDWIS, NCES Last verified: 2026-07-23

A · 88
Avg Safety Score
38
ZIP Codes
14
Water Systems
6
Violations (5yr)
0.0044 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Water Quality Overview

The Shelby County School District in Tennessee spans 38 ZIP codes served by 14 community water systems, providing water to approximately 21,885,139 people.

The average Home Safety Score across the district is A (88/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 65/100 .

Water quality in this district ranks better than 87% of ZIP codes nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0044 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0091 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP codes exceeding EPA action level 0 of 38 -

EPA Violation History

6 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 2
Lead Inorganic 1 No 1
Contaminant 2051 Other 1 No 1
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No 1
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 1 No 1

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low risk)

Water Quality by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Safety Score Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
38017 Collierville A (88) 2 0 0.001 mg/L No
38138 Germantown B (81) 2 0 0.0019 mg/L No
38004 Atoka B (80) 1 0 0.00907 mg/L No
38011 Brighton A (90) 1 0 0.001 mg/L No
38002 Arlington C (65) 0 0 — —
38016 Cordova B (73) 0 0 — —
38018 Cordova C (65) 0 0 — —
38028 Eads B (73) 0 0 — —
38053 Millington A (85) 0 0 0.001 mg/L No
38103 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38104 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38105 Memphis A (95) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38106 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38107 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38108 Memphis A (95) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38109 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38111 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38112 Memphis A (95) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38113 Memphis A (95) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38114 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38115 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38116 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38117 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38118 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38119 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38120 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38122 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38125 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38126 Memphis A (99) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38127 Memphis A (85) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38128 Memphis A (85) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38131 Memphis A (99) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38132 Memphis A (95) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38133 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38134 Memphis A (85) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38135 Memphis A (90) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38141 Memphis A (95) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No
38152 Memphis A (99) 0 0 0.00473 mg/L No

Water Systems Serving This District

Water System Population Served Source ZIP Codes
MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER 659,500 Groundwater 38002, 38004, 38011 +35 more
Collierville Water Department 51,972 Groundwater 38017, 38028, 38125
Germantown Water Department 37,738 Groundwater 38017, 38119, 38120 +2 more
Poplar Grove Utility District 19,599 Groundwater 38002, 38004, 38011, 38053
OAKLAND WATER DEPT 14,957 Groundwater 38002, 38028
Covington Water Department 14,334 Groundwater 38011
Munford Water Department 10,434 Groundwater 38004, 38011, 38053
Atoka Water System 9,197 Groundwater 38004, 38011, 38053

14 water systems total serve this district.

Lead Risk Assessment

Lead risk: ELEVATED. 20 ZIP codes in this district have high lead exposure risk scores based on housing age and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Risk Factors

Risk Factor District Average Why It Matters
Housing built before 1986 61.5% Lead solder was used in plumbing until 1986
Housing built before 1950 13.1% Lead pipes were common before 1950
Lead service line probability 17.5% Estimated chance of lead pipes connecting homes to water mains
Average lead level (90th pctl) 0.0044 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L
Highest measured lead level 0.0091 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L

Schools built before 1986 are especially at risk. Lead can leach from older pipes, fixtures, and solder joints into drinking water — particularly when water sits in pipes overnight or over weekends.

Detailed Violation History

Contaminant Category Total Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 2 No 2
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No 1
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 1 No 1
Lead Inorganic 1 No 1
Contaminant 2051 Other 1 No 1

Most Recent Violations

  • Violation in ZIP 38138 (Unknown date) — Unresolved

Is the Water Safe at Shelby County School District Schools?

Several factors warrant attention for families in the Shelby County School District area:

  • 61.5% of buildings in this district predate 1986, increasing the risk of lead in school plumbing.
  • 3 violations remain unresolved, meaning the issues have not been officially corrected.

Important context: EPA compliance data measures water quality at the utility level. Individual school buildings — especially older ones — may have additional risks from internal plumbing, lead fixtures, and stagnant water in pipes.

What Parents Should Do

Testing

  1. Request your school's water testing results. Under the EPA's 3Ts program, schools are encouraged to test drinking water. Ask the Shelby County School District school board for the most recent results.
  2. Test your home water. If your home was built before 1986, lead may be present in your plumbing. Free or low-cost test kits are often available from your water utility.

Advocacy

  1. Attend school board meetings and ask about the district's water quality testing schedule and remediation plans.
  2. Request lead fixture replacement if your child's school was built before 1986 and hasn't upgraded its plumbing.
  3. Contact your water utility about the 3 unresolved violations in the district. Ask for a timeline for resolution.

Resources

ZIP Code Reports for This District

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Shelby County School District schools?

Based on EPA data, water systems serving Shelby County School District have no health-based violations in the past 5 years. However, school buildings with older plumbing may still have localized issues. Testing at the tap (not just at the treatment plant) is important.

Does Shelby County School District test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Shelby County School District Water Quality (TN) - A. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/shelby-county-school-district-tn/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-shelby-county-school-district-tn,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Shelby County School District Water Quality (TN) - A}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/shelby-county-school-district-tn/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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