Kingsport Water Department
EPA ID: TN0000349 · 107,739 people served · 13 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Kingsport Water Department (TN0000349): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. Not yet resolved: 1 EPA violation at Kingsport Water Department, affecting about 107,739 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Kingsport Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Kingsport Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $65,731 and an estimated 196,949 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: 54% 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?
Kingsport 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 Kingsport Water Department compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Surface Water Treatment 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. 12 detections recorded. 9 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 9 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
Kingsport Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000349) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 107,739 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 13 ZIP codes across 10 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (47/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 5 of 13 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, 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.001 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.
- 37615 - Johnson City
- 37617 - Blountville
- 37642 - Church Hill
- 37645 - Mount Carmel
- 37656 - Fall Branch
- 37659 - Jonesborough
- 37660 - Kingsport
- 37663 - Kingsport
- 37664 - Kingsport
- 37665 - Kingsport
- 37681 - Limestone
- 37686 - Piney Flats
- 37690 - Telford
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Kingsport Water Department (TN0000349) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kingsport 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 Kingsport Water Department serve?
Kingsport Water Department serves approximately 107,739 people across 13 ZIP codes in Tennessee.
Where does Kingsport Water Department get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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.
- #31 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Tennessee)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Kingsport Water Department (TN): 1 EPA Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/tn0000349/
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title = {{Kingsport Water Department (TN): 1 EPA Violation}},
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url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/tn0000349/}
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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
Kingsport Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000349) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.