Water System Report TN

Watts Bar East U.d.

EPA ID: TN0000969 · 3,927 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Zero EPA violations over five years — Watts Bar East U.d. has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 3,927.

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

3,927
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$236K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 5 (2022) to 1 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Watts Bar East U.d. Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$73,917
Median Household Income
87,731
Service Area Population
36%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
53th
Energy Burden Percentile
55%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Watts Bar East U.d. serves a community with a median household income of $73,917 and an estimated 87,731 residents across its service area. Approximately 55% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 36% 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

Watts Bar East U.d.'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
45th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
48th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Roane 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

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
26 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 62% 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. 10 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Tennessee

Niota Water System
3,932 people
C 2 violations
B 0 violations
Wartrace Water System
3,983 people
C 1 violation
C 0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,350
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $525
Water Filtration $150
Total Estimated Cost $3,225

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 $3,225 (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

Watts Bar East U.d. (EPA ID: TN0000969) is a community water system in Tennessee that serves approximately 3,927 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 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 Watts Bar East U.d. (TN0000969) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Watts Bar East U.d. water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Watts Bar East U.d. has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Watts Bar East U.d. serve?

Watts Bar East U.d. serves approximately 3,927 people across 4 ZIP codes in Tennessee.

Where does Watts Bar East U.d. 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.

Samples collected
232
Detections
4
Latest sample
7/17/2024
Highest analyte
PFBS: 5.5 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBS 5.5 ppt
PFBA 5.3 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
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
1,921
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: 3,927
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 →

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Watts Bar East U.d. meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Watts Bar East U.d. serve?
Watts Bar East U.d. serves approximately 3,927 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Watts Bar East U.d.'s water source?
Watts Bar East U.d. draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Watts Bar East U.d.'s service area?
The Watts Bar East U.d. service area has a median household income of $73,917. EPA EJScreen data classifies 36% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Watts Bar East U.d. get its water?
Watts Bar East U.d.'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.
Home Water Systems Tennessee Watts Bar East U.d.

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