01The verdict: is Iron City water safe?
Iron City's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (88.4/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 729 residents using gup.
2 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 4.9 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Iron City's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.4 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 729 residents using gup.
Lead levels were measured at 4.9 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 29 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
Iron City ranks #107 out of 299 cities in Tennessee for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. As a small community water system, Iron City may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Iron City's water
Every contaminant flagged in Iron City, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 4.9 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Tennessee
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Tennessee
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Iron City's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 29 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 2.1 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 4.9 ppb (2025) — 33% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Iron City's water comes from
Iron City's water comes from groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, a designation that requires the same treatment rigor as surface water systems.
GUP
Source details for this system are limited in EPA records.
Local treatment
Treatment is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
729 people
Residents served across Iron City's service area.
This source type is vulnerable to both surface contamination pathways and naturally occurring underground contaminants. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 729 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRON CITY UTILITY DISTRICT | TN0000320 | 729 | GUP |
Water bodies near Iron City
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Iron City's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
4 federal disaster declarations on record for Lawrence County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Iron City compares
Scores for nearby Tennessee cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Tennessee average (73/100)
Iron City scores 88.4/100 — above the Tennessee average of 73/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Tennessee rankings →
69 / 100CMemphis, TN
66.2 / 100CKnoxville, TN
55 / 100BMurfreesboro, TN
80.6 / 100BClarksville, TN
75.5 / 100CChattanooga, TN
65.5 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Iron City's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Iron City's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Flush taps & check your service line
Lead leaches from pipes as water sits. Run cold water 30 seconds before drinking (especially mornings), and ask the utility whether your address still has a lead service line.
Lead risks explained →Watch for Iron City alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Iron City, TN tap water safe to drink?
Iron City's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.4/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #107 out of 299 cities tested in Tennessee.
What contaminants are in Iron City's water?
Lead was measured at 4.9 ppb (90th percentile). 29 violations are on record.
How is Iron City's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Iron City?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Iron City's water come from?
Iron City's water is sourced from GUP. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 729 residents.
How does Iron City's water compare to other cities?
Iron City ranks #107 out of 299 cities in Tennessee (better than 64% of state cities) and #3462 out of 15382 cities nationally (78th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Iron City's small water system affect quality?
Iron City's system serves approximately 729 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 29 violations on record.