Water System Report TN

Hillsville Utility District

EPA ID: TN0000430 · 11,325 people served · 10 ZIP codes

With a five-year violation-free history, Hillsville Utility District delivers safe water to 11,325 residents.

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

11,325
People Served
10
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$224K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 6 (2023) to 6 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$60,050
Median Household Income
94,335
Service Area Population
61%
Disadvantaged Population
67th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
49%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Hillsville Utility District serves a community with a median household income of $60,050 and an estimated 94,335 residents across its service area. Approximately 49% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 61% 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

Hillsville 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
31th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
13th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 3% of homes in Grundy 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

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
28 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 60% 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. 43 detections recorded. 12 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 12 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

Kingston Water System
11,392 people
0 violations
C 1 violation
Woodbury Water System
11,434 people
C 1 violation
B 0 violations
Centerville Water System
11,011 people
D 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,133
PFAS Treatment $400
Radon Mitigation $222
Water Filtration $67
Total Estimated Cost $1,822

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 $1,822 (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

Hillsville Utility District (EPA ID: TN0000430) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 11,325 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 10 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

Violation History

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

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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: 9 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP 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 Hillsville Utility District (TN0000430) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hillsville Utility District water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Hillsville Utility District serve?

Hillsville Utility District serves approximately 11,325 people across 10 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Hillsville Utility District get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
25
Latest sample
12/6/2023
Highest analyte
PFOA: 11.9 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 11.9 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFBS 9.9 ppt
PFOS 7.3 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFHxA 7.3 ppt
PFBA 6.2 ppt
PFPeA 5.9 ppt

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
635
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
3,856
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: 11,325
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

Should I use a water filter?
Hillsville 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 Hillsville Utility District serve?
Hillsville Utility District serves approximately 11,325 people with drinking water across 10 ZIP codes.
What is Hillsville Utility District's water source?
Hillsville Utility District draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Hillsville Utility District's service area?
The Hillsville Utility District service area has a median household income of $60,050. EPA EJScreen data classifies 61% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Hillsville Utility District get its water?
Hillsville 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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