Johnson City Water Department
EPA ID: TN0000331 · 105,057 people served · 15 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Johnson City Water Department (TN0000331): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. With 1 unresolved EPA violation, Johnson City Water Department is currently out of full compliance - approximately 105,057 people in its service area.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Johnson City Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Johnson City Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $62,877 and an estimated 215,364 residents across its service area. Approximately 47% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 55% 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?
Johnson City Water Department'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.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Johnson City Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Benzene at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L.
Contaminant 2037 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 2051 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 2105 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 11 detections recorded. 7 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 7 exceed state limits.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Tennessee
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Johnson City Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000331) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 105,057 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 15 ZIP codes across 12 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (56/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 2 of 15 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.
Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 0 resolved, 4 archived, 0 addressed, and 1 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 4, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
| April 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2037 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| April 1, 2021 | Benzene | Non-health-based | Archived |
| April 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2051 | Non-health-based | Archived |
| April 1, 2021 | Contaminant 2105 | Non-health-based | Archived |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2037 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Benzene | Organic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2051 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2105 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0013 mg/L | No | N/A |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree 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.
- 37601 - Johnson City
- 37604 - Johnson City
- 37614 - Johnson City
- 37615 - Johnson City
- 37617 - Blountville
- 37618 - Bluff City
- 37650 - Erwin
- 37656 - Fall Branch
- 37659 - Jonesborough
- 37663 - Kingsport
- 37681 - Limestone
- 37686 - Piney Flats
- 37690 - Telford
- 37692 - Unicoi
- 37694 - Watauga
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Johnson City Water Department (TN0000331) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnson City Water Department water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current noncompliance record and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does Johnson City Water Department serve?
Johnson City Water Department serves approximately 105,057 people across 15 ZIP codes in Tennessee.
Where does Johnson City Water Department 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.
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 →
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
- #18 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Tennessee)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Johnson City Water Department (TN): 5 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/tn0000331/
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Johnson City Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000331) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.