Tennessee Water Quality Report: 1,334 Violations Across 787 ZIPs
719 water systems · 787 ZIP codes · 1,334 violations · Updated 2026-05-31
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified: 2026-05-31
City Water Quality Map: Tennessee
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Tennessee.
Cities with Most Violations in Tennessee
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | C | 117 | 2 | 842,512 | Details → |
| 2 | Chattanooga | B | 60 | 5 | 279,166 | Details → |
| 3 | Franklin | D | 40 | 4 | 185,695 | Details → |
| 4 | Cookeville | B | 35 | 5 | 78,162 | Details → |
| 5 | Morristown | C | 32 | 2 | 45,654 | Details → |
| 6 | Clarksville | C | 30 | 5 | 289,449 | Details → |
| 7 | Shelbyville | C | 30 | 3 | 58,300 | Details → |
| 8 | Mcminnville | C | 26 | 3 | 54,616 | Details → |
| 9 | Clinton | D | 26 | 2 | 44,472 | Details → |
| 10 | Jackson | B | 24 | 3 | 100,089 | Details → |
Cities with Best Water Quality in Tennessee
| # | City | Grade | Score | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 12,516 |
| 2 | Oneida | A | 99/100 | 1 | 10,688 |
| 3 | Altamont | A | 99/100 | 1 | 9,211 |
| 4 | Somerville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 5,020 |
| 5 | Greenfield | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,189 |
| 6 | Troy | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,096 |
| 7 | Clarksburg | A | 99/100 | 1 | 1,549 |
| 8 | Grand Junction | A | 99/100 | 1 | 1,019 |
| 9 | Sewanee | A | 97/100 | 1 | 5,970 |
| 10 | Millington | A | 96/100 | 2 | 15,615 |
Most Common Contaminants in Tennessee
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 441 | 220 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 181 | 79 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 99 | 86 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 86 | 51 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 61 | 54 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 61 | 48 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 46 | 13 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 12 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 20 | 20 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 20 | 7 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Tennessee has 719 community water systems serving approximately 21,590,762 people across 787 ZIP codes. These systems have accumulated 1,334 EPA violations, including 217 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 16% of all violations in Tennessee. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 217 | 16.3% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 1,117 | 83.7% |
| Total | 1,334 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report — these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Tennessee have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | C | 117 | 2 | 842,512 |
| 2 | Chattanooga | B | 60 | 5 | 279,166 |
| 3 | Franklin | D | 40 | 4 | 185,695 |
| 4 | Cookeville | B | 35 | 5 | 78,162 |
| 5 | Morristown | C | 32 | 2 | 45,654 |
| 6 | Clarksville | C | 30 | 5 | 289,449 |
| 7 | Shelbyville | C | 30 | 3 | 58,300 |
| 8 | Mcminnville | C | 26 | 3 | 54,616 |
| 9 | Clinton | D | 26 | 2 | 44,472 |
| 10 | Jackson | B | 24 | 3 | 100,089 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Cities with Best Water Quality
These Tennessee cities maintain Grade A water with zero violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Score | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 12,516 |
| 2 | Oneida | A | 99/100 | 1 | 10,688 |
| 3 | Altamont | A | 99/100 | 1 | 9,211 |
| 4 | Somerville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 5,020 |
| 5 | Greenfield | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,189 |
| 6 | Troy | A | 99/100 | 1 | 2,096 |
| 7 | Clarksburg | A | 99/100 | 1 | 1,549 |
| 8 | Grand Junction | A | 99/100 | 1 | 1,019 |
| 9 | Sewanee | A | 97/100 | 1 | 5,970 |
| 10 | Millington | A | 96/100 | 2 | 15,615 |
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Tennessee:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 55 | 55 |
| 2022 | 236 | 222 |
| 2023 | 163 | 135 |
| 2024 | 193 | 193 |
| 2025 | 204 | 204 |
Violations have increased from 55 in 2021 to 204 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Tennessee water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 441 | 220 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 181 | 79 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 99 | 86 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 86 | 51 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 61 | 54 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 61 | 48 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 46 | 13 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 12 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 20 | 20 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 9 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Tennessee
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water system data including contaminant levels, violation history, and safety scores
Request your CCR — every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test — certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration — NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 5,450 enforcement actions against water systems in Tennessee. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) — the legal limit designed to protect human health. Tennessee has 217 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Tennessee?
Tennessee has 719 community water systems with 1,334 recorded EPA violations, including 217 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code — check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Tennessee have?
Tennessee has 1,334 total EPA violations across 787 ZIP codes. 217 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Tennessee has the worst water quality?
Nashville, TN has the most EPA violations among major cities in Tennessee with 117 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Tennessee has the best water quality?
Huntsville, TN ranks among the best for water quality in Tennessee with a grade of A. Multiple cities in Tennessee maintain strong EPA compliance records.
What contaminants are found in Tennessee drinking water?
Tennessee water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region — check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.