Memphis Light, Gas, & Water
EPA ID: TN0000450 · 659,500 people served · 76 ZIP codes
Unlike many utilities its size, Memphis Light, Gas, & Water carries a violation-free five-year record — no EPA notices, no MCL exceedances, serving 659,500 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Memphis Light, Gas, & Water Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade A
Service Area Demographics
The Memphis Light, Gas, & Water serves a community with a median household income of $61,172 and an estimated 955,174 residents across its service area. Approximately 59% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 56% 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?
Memphis Light, Gas, & Water'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.
About 1% of homes in Shelby County, Tennessee rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 69th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
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
Memphis Light, Gas, & Water (EPA ID: TN0000450) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 659,500 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 76 ZIP codes across 11 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: A (92/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37501 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 37544 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38101 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38103 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38104 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38105 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38106 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38107 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38108 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38109 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38111 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38112 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38113 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38114 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38115 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38116 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38117 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38118 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38119 | 0.00473 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 38120 | 0.00473 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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 38 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 38 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 76 ZIP codes:
37501 · 37544 · 38002 · 38004 · 38011 38014 · 38016 · 38017 · 38018 · 38028 38029 · 38053 · 38088 · 38101 · 38103 38104 · 38105 · 38106 · 38107 · 38108 38109 · 38111 · 38112 · 38113 · 38114 38115 · 38116 · 38117 · 38118 · 38119 38120 · 38122 · 38124 · 38125 · 38126 38127 · 38128 · 38130 · 38131 · 38132 38133 · 38134 · 38135 · 38136 · 38137 38138 · 38139 · 38141 · 38145 · 38147 38148 · 38150 · 38151 · 38152 · 38157 38159 · 38161 · 38163 · 38165 · 38166 38167 · 38168 · 38173 · 38174 · 38175 38177 · 38181 · 38182 · 38184 · 38186 38187 · 38188 · 38190 · 38193 · 38194 38197
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Memphis Light, Gas, & Water (TN0000450) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Memphis Light, Gas, & Water water safe to drink?
Based on EPA records, Memphis Light, Gas, & Water has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.
How many people does Memphis Light, Gas, & Water serve?
Memphis Light, Gas, & Water serves approximately 659,500 people across 76 ZIP codes in Tennessee.
Where does Memphis Light, Gas, & Water get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) — Memphis Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) — Memphis Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
MLGW's wellhead protection plan and source water assessment are available for public review by calling Jeffery Embry, Manager, Water Engineering and Operations, at 901-320-3939. An explanation of Tennessee's Source Water Assessment Program and susceptibility scorings can be viewed at tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality/source-water-assessment.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) — Memphis Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
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 →
MLGW completed and submitted the LCRR service line inventory to TDEC in September 2024. There is no detectable lead in Memphis source water. Customers can access the public lead inventory map and lead information at mlgw.com/waterservicelines. MLGW offers free lead testing kits by emailing [email protected] or calling 901-320-3962.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) — Memphis Water
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
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.
Aesthetic water quality
These measurements describe the look, taste, and feel of the water this utility delivers. They are not contaminant violations — they sit alongside federal Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs) which the EPA publishes as non-enforceable guidance.
Aesthetic measurements from Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) — Memphis Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Aesthetic measurements are reported by the utility from its annual sampling. EPA Secondary MCLs are advisory thresholds — values outside them indicate aesthetic concerns such as taste or appearance, not health violations. Federal contaminant testing is shown in the sections above.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- Memphis Sand Aquifer provides groundwater pumped from 350 to 1,100 feet depth; water layers act as natural filter and water may be over 2,000 years old.
- MLGW changed fluoride content in finished water from 1.0 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L in 2013 per CDC and TDEC recommendations.
- MLGW completed and submitted the LCRR inventory to TDEC in September 2024; public lead inventory map available at mlgw.com/waterservicelines.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
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.