Monitoring Violations TN

Gates Water Department

EPA ID: TN0000255 · 670 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Federal water data for Gates Water Department logs 2 historical violations — all addressed and cleared, leaving the utility in current compliance for 670 people.

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

A · 94
Avg Safety Score
670
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
2
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00487 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
1
Contaminants Flagged
$108K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Gates Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$48,578
Median Household Income
22,192
Service Area Population
78%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
58%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Gates Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $48,578 and an estimated 22,192 residents across its service area. Approximately 58% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 78% 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

Gates Water Department'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.

Low Risk
Source Contamination Risk
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Lauderdale County, Tennessee rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

44 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 63% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Gates Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Tennessee

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Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance
Flood Insurance $1,400
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.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,500
10 years
$5,000
20 years
$10,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,400 (one-time) vs. $5,000 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

Gates Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000255) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 670 people from groundwater sources.

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

Average Home Safety Score: A (94/100)

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

Violation History

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

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 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
38037 0.00487 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 Gates Water Department (TN0000255) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gates Water Department water safe to drink?

Gates Water Department has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Gates Water Department serve?

Gates Water Department serves approximately 670 people across 3 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Gates Water Department 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:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
380
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: 670
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 Gates Water Department safe to drink?
Gates Water Department earns a A safety grade with 2 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Gates Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Stage 1 DBP Rule. 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 Gates Water Department serve?
Gates Water Department serves approximately 670 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Gates Water Department's water source?
Gates Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Gates Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00487 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Gates Water Department's service area?
The Gates Water Department service area has a median household income of $48,578. EPA EJScreen data classifies 78% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Gates Water Department get its water?
Gates Water Department'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.

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

Gates Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000255) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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