Monitoring Violations TN

Monterey Water Department

EPA ID: TN0000471 · 5,072 people served · 6 ZIP codes

Based on the latest federal compliance data, Monterey Water Department has 6 violations that the EPA has not yet closed — those outstanding findings are part of the enforcement record for a utility that delivers water to approximately 5,072 people throughout its service territory.

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

C · 68
Avg Safety Score
5,072
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
12
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.001 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
5
Contaminants Flagged
$197K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 8 (2024) to 8 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$55,542
Median Household Income
91,562
Service Area Population
66%
Disadvantaged Population
68th
Poverty Percentile
63th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Monterey Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $55,542 and an estimated 91,562 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 66% 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

Monterey 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
13th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Putnam 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

34 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
36 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 49% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Monterey Water Department compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 1920 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 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. 2 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 1 exceeds 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 →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Tennessee

B 6 violations
A 0 violations
B 0 violations
Trenton Water System
5,155 people
B 2 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $960
Radon Mitigation $320
PFAS Treatment $120
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 $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,400 (one-time) vs. $10,330 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

MONTEREY WATER DEPT (EPA ID: TN0000471) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 5,072 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (68/100)

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

Violation History

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

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 1, 2024 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2023 Contaminant 1920 Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Monitoring Unresolved

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 6 No
Contaminant 1920 Other Violation 2 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 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
38574 0.001 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 5 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 Monterey Water Department (TN0000471) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monterey Water Department water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Monterey Water Department serve?

Monterey Water Department serves approximately 5,072 people across 6 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Monterey 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.

Samples collected
116

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
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
2,159
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: 5,072
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 Monterey Water Department safe to drink?
Monterey Water Department has a C safety grade based on 12 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Monterey Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Surface Water Treatment Rule, Contaminant 1920. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants 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 Monterey Water Department serve?
Monterey Water Department serves approximately 5,072 people with drinking water across 6 ZIP codes.
What is Monterey Water Department's water source?
Monterey Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Monterey Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.001 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Monterey Water Department's service area?
The Monterey Water Department service area has a median household income of $55,542. EPA EJScreen data classifies 66% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Monterey Water Department get its water?
Monterey 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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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

Monterey Water Department (EPA ID: TN0000471) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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