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Tennessee Water Quality
403
Utilities in database
7.8M
Residents served
22%
On private wells
2
Key contaminants tracked
Drinking Water in Tennessee
Tennessee has 403 community water systems serving approximately 7.8 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 22% of Tennessee residents rely on private wells. TDEC holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Utilities in Tennessee
Top 20 of 403 by populationMetro Water Services
TN0000494 · 778,153 served
Memphis Light, Gas, & Water
TN0000450 · 659,500 served
Knoxville Utilities Board - Kub
TN0000366 · 254,671 served
Clarksville Water Department
TN0000116 · 251,864 served
Consolidated U.d. of Rutherford Co
TN0000791 · 221,871 served
Tennessee American Water
TN0000107 · 207,046 served
White House Utility District
TN0000745 · 130,411 served
First U.d. of Knox County
TN0000369 · 115,531 served
Murfreesboro Water Department
TN0000491 · 111,365 served
Kingsport Water Dept
TN0000349 · 107,739 served
Johnson City Water Dept
TN0000331 · 105,057 served
Cleveland Utilities
TN0000117 · 95,087 served
Jackson Water System
TN0000299 · 91,111 served
West Wilson Utility District
TN0000743 · 86,978 served
Columbia Power and Water Systems
TN0000128 · 84,617 served
Hallsdale-powell U.d.
TN0000280 · 84,315 served
Madison Suburban U.d.
TN0000424 · 81,203 served
West Knox Utility District
TN0000371 · 77,825 served
Franklin Water Dept
TN0000246 · 77,222 served
Water Auth of Dickson County
TN0000191 · 68,675 served
Key Contaminant Concerns in Tennessee
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always from human activity — nitrate interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen. The United States produces over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination.
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
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Data source: Utility data from EPA SDWIS. 403 active community water systems ingested. CCR contaminant data ingestion in progress.
Last updated: 2026-04-19