Monitoring Violations TN

Bells Public Utility District

EPA ID: TN0000045 · 2,610 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Bells Public Utility District carries 1 resolved violation in the five-year EPA record — each has been formally closed, and the supplier, which serves approximately 2,610 people, now meets all applicable federal drinking water standards with no open enforcement activity remaining.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 81
Avg Safety Score
2,610
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0041 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$176K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bells Public Utility District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$60,756
Median Household Income
6,738
Service Area Population
60%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bells Public Utility District serves a community with a median household income of $60,756 and an estimated 6,738 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 60% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Bells Public Utility District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Crockett County, Tennessee rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

48 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 68% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Bells Public Utility District compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Radium-228 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.004 ppt, PFOS: 0.004 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Radium-228 was detected in this water system. ion exchange (water softener) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Tennessee

B 0 violations
Sneedville U.d.
2,607 people
C 1 violation
C 10 violations
B 0 violations
D 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $900
PFAS Treatment $500
Total Estimated Cost $1,400

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,400 (one-time) vs. $5,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Bells Public Utility District (EPA ID: TN0000045) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 2,610 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (81/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2023 Radium-228 Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Radium-228 Radionuclides 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
38006 0.0041 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your 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.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Bells Public Utility District (TN0000045) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bells Public Utility District water safe to drink?

Bells Public Utility District has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Bells Public Utility District serve?

Bells Public Utility District serves approximately 2,610 people across 3 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Bells Public Utility District get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

5
Confirmed Lead
8
Galvanized — Replacement Required
18
Unknown Material
983
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 2,610
Reported to Tennessee

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Bells Public Utility District safe to drink?
Bells Public Utility District earns a B safety grade with 1 violation in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Bells Public Utility District's water?
Detected contaminants include Radium-228. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Bells Public Utility District serve?
Bells Public Utility District serves approximately 2,610 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Bells Public Utility District's water source?
Bells Public Utility District draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Bells Public Utility District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0041 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Bells Public Utility District's service area?
The Bells Public Utility District service area has a median household income of $60,756. EPA EJScreen data classifies 60% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Bells Public Utility District get its water?
Bells Public Utility District's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Bells Public Utility District (EPA ID: TN0000045) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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