Water System Report TN

Brownlow Utility District

EPA ID: TN0000480 · 683 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Although compliance varies widely among water utilities nationally, Brownlow Utility District stands out with zero EPA violations over five consecutive monitoring years, delivering safe tap water to 683 residents and showing no enforcement activity across the entire reporting span.

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

683
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$165K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$50,656
Median Household Income
17,059
Service Area Population
81%
Disadvantaged Population
80th
Poverty Percentile
65th
Energy Burden Percentile
51%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Brownlow Utility District serves a community with a median household income of $50,656 and an estimated 17,059 residents across its service area. Approximately 51% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 81% 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

Brownlow 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
10th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
15th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Carter 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
29 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 59% 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. 2 detections recorded.

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

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702 people
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Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,800
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $2,700

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 $2,700 (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

Brownlow Utility District (EPA ID: TN0000480) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 683 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 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: 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Brownlow Utility District (TN0000480) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brownlow Utility District water safe to drink?

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

How many people does Brownlow Utility District serve?

Brownlow Utility District serves approximately 683 people across 2 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Brownlow Utility District get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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
196
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: 683
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?
Brownlow 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 Brownlow Utility District serve?
Brownlow Utility District serves approximately 683 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Brownlow Utility District's water source?
Brownlow 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 Brownlow Utility District's service area?
The Brownlow Utility District service area has a median household income of $50,656. EPA EJScreen data classifies 81% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Brownlow Utility District get its water?
Brownlow 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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