Water System Report TN

Big Creek Utility District

EPA ID: TN0000122 · 9,211 people served · 9 ZIP codes

Big Creek Utility District's five-year compliance history is clean by every EPA metric — no health-based violations, no monitoring lapses, no enforcement actions on record, reflecting consistent performance for a utility that supplies water to approximately 9,211 residents year after year.

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

B · 76
Avg Safety Score
9,211
People Served
9
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$145K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 8 (2023) to 26 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Big Creek Utility District Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$50,962
Median Household Income
52,776
Service Area Population
76%
Disadvantaged Population
72th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
53%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Big Creek Utility District serves a community with a median household income of $50,962 and an estimated 52,776 residents across its service area. Approximately 53% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 76% 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?

Surface Water

Big Creek Utility District's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
18th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
22th
Superfund Site Proximity

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

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
27 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 61% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 9 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 2 exceed state limits.

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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Tennessee

Atoka Water System
9,197 people
0 violations
B 4 violations
C 1 violation
C 2 violations
B 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $840
Water Filtration $360
PFAS Treatment $220
Radon Mitigation $160
Total Estimated Cost $1,580

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:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,580 (one-time) vs. $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

Big Creek Utility District (EPA ID: TN0000122) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 9,211 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 9 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (76/100)

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

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

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

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
37301 0.001 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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by TN or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Big Creek Utility District (TN0000122) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Creek Utility District water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Big Creek Utility District has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Big Creek Utility District serve?

Big Creek Utility District serves approximately 9,211 people across 9 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Big Creek Utility District get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
116

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,903
Unknown Material
1,540
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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: 9,211
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 Big Creek Utility District safe to drink?
Big Creek Utility District earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Big Creek Utility District meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Big Creek Utility District serve?
Big Creek Utility District serves approximately 9,211 people with drinking water across 9 ZIP codes.
What is Big Creek Utility District's water source?
Big Creek Utility District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Big Creek Utility District's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Big Creek Utility District's service area?
The Big Creek Utility District service area has a median household income of $50,962. EPA EJScreen data classifies 76% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Big Creek Utility District get its water?
Big Creek Utility District's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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