HAA5 Contamination

HAA5 in Tennessee Drinking Water

Ranked by average HAA5 concentration (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

123

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

23.2 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

227

Health Violations

Analysis

HAA5 in Tennessee: what the data shows

Tennessee has 123 cities with HAA5 monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Haloacetic acids (HAA5) form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with natural organic matter in water. The state average is 23.2 µg/L — better than the 15.5 µg/L national average. 1 city exceeds the EPA MCL of 60 µg/L. HAA5 is a group of five chlorinated and brominated acetic acids. Long-term exposure above the MCL is associated with increased cancer risk and adverse reproductive outcomes. The EPA classifies total HAA5 as a probable human carcinogen at elevated concentrations. Activated carbon filtration (especially granular or block carbon) is effective at reducing HAA5. Running water through a refrigerator filter or letting it sit in an open pitcher for 30 minutes also helps, as some HAA5 species are volatile. Boiling does not remove disinfection byproducts and may concentrate them.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 60 µg/L EPA MCL

Tennessee

1 of 123 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

23 of 4420 cities

City Map

HAA5 data across Tennessee

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 HAA5 testing data. Cities where average HAA5 exceeded the 60 µg/L EPA MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by haa5 level in Tennessee

Highest HAA5 levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Tennessee cities ranked by haa5 level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Smithville	68.8 µg/L	Yes	6	C+
2	Lexington	55.9 µg/L	No	11	A-
3	Blountville	51.0 µg/L	No	0	A+
4	Friendsville	49.2 µg/L	No	2	A-
5	New Tazewell	47.2 µg/L	No	3	B+
6	Springfield	45.9 µg/L	No	7	A
7	Bethpage	45.5 µg/L	No	10	A
8	Rogersville	44.9 µg/L	No	40	C-
9	Dayton	44.6 µg/L	No	11	B-
10	Jacksboro	44.0 µg/L	No	7	D+
11	Mcminnville	43.8 µg/L	No	8	B+
12	Lake City	43.1 µg/L	No	2	B-
13	La Follette	42.7 µg/L	No	15	D+
14	La Follette	42.7 µg/L	No	15	D+
15	Bristol	42.4 µg/L	No	12	B-
16	Kingsport	40.4 µg/L	No	6	B
17	Clinton	39.5 µg/L	No	1	A
18	Mount Juliet	38.5 µg/L	No	4	A+
19	Mount Juliet	38.5 µg/L	No	4	A+
20	Jonesborough	38.3 µg/L	No	12	A-
21	Hendersonville	37.8 µg/L	No	4	A+
22	Shelbyville	36.6 µg/L	No	28	C
23	South Carthage	35.2 µg/L	No	1	B
24	Jamestown	34.8 µg/L	No	21	B
25	Livingston	34.8 µg/L	No	10	A-
26	Portland	34.6 µg/L	No	5	A
27	Clarksville	34.0 µg/L	No	8	B
28	Madison	33.5 µg/L	No	1	A
29	Pulaski	33.3 µg/L	No	4	B+
30	Etowah	33.1 µg/L	No	5	D+
31	Columbia	32.8 µg/L	No	9	B+
32	Athens	32.6 µg/L	No	0	A
33	Greeneville	32.6 µg/L	No	50	C-
34	Alexandria	32.4 µg/L	No	2	B-
35	Knoxville	32.0 µg/L	No	36	C-
36	Hendersonville	31.9 µg/L	No	8	A-
37	Harrogate	31.4 µg/L	No	2	A-
38	Dandridge	31.2 µg/L	No	1	B+
39	Sweetwater	30.6 µg/L	No	2	B
40	Soddy-Daisy	30.5 µg/L	No	2	A
41	Spring Hill	30.4 µg/L	No	2	A-
42	Lebanon	30.4 µg/L	No	21	C-
43	Crossville	29.9 µg/L	No	14	B+
44	Greenbrier	29.6 µg/L	No	2	A-
45	Winchester	29.4 µg/L	No	7	A-
46	Rockwood	29.3 µg/L	No	3	A-
47	Loudon	29.2 µg/L	No	5	B+
48	Murfreesboro	29.0 µg/L	No	4	B+
49	Cleveland	28.8 µg/L	No	58	B
50	Maryville	28.6 µg/L	No	9	A-
51	Sevierville	28.6 µg/L	No	11	D
52	Brentwood	28.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
53	Dickson	28.1 µg/L	No	1	A
54	Harriman	28.0 µg/L	No	13	D+
55	Franklin	27.8 µg/L	No	25	C+
56	Wartburg	27.7 µg/L	No	1	A
57	Cookeville	27.3 µg/L	No	4	B+
58	Morrison	27.3 µg/L	No	7	A
59	Lawrenceburg	26.9 µg/L	No	1	B+
60	Lewisburg	26.4 µg/L	No	3	B+
61	Nashville	26.3 µg/L	No	5	C+
62	Vonore	26.1 µg/L	No	2	A
63	Nolensville	26.0 µg/L	No	8	B
64	Lavergne	25.4 µg/L	No	9	B+
65	Fayetteville	25.3 µg/L	No	2	D
66	Madisonville	24.3 µg/L	No	6	A-
67	Pleasant View	24.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
68	Rickman	24.2 µg/L	No	3	A
69	Oak Ridge	24.0 µg/L	No	1	A-
70	Huntsville	23.9 µg/L	No	0	A+
71	Pigeon Forge	23.3 µg/L	No	1	A
72	Gallatin	23.1 µg/L	No	1	A
73	Tullahoma	23.1 µg/L	No	0	B+
74	Franklin	23.1 µg/L	No	12	B-
75	Chattanooga	23.0 µg/L	No	25	C+
76	Lafayette	22.6 µg/L	No	3	A-
77	Knoxville	22.2 µg/L	No	1	A
78	Oneida	22.1 µg/L	No	25	B+
79	Townsend	20.2 µg/L	No	0	A-
80	Lenoir City	19.9 µg/L	No	3	B-
81	Church Hill	19.7 µg/L	No	4	A-
82	Alcoa	19.7 µg/L	No	4	A
83	Sparta	19.6 µg/L	No	6	B+
84	Newport	18.1 µg/L	No	3	A
85	Smyrna	17.5 µg/L	No	9	A-
86	Gatlinburg	16.5 µg/L	No	3	B-
87	Manchester	16.2 µg/L	No	2	D+
88	Johnson City	13.7 µg/L	No	0	A
89	Georgetown	12.7 µg/L	No	2	B
90	Savannah	10.3 µg/L	No	9	B+
91	Ripley	9.6 µg/L	No	1	A
92	Elizabethton	8.8 µg/L	No	27	D
93	Harriman	7.3 µg/L	No	1	B+
94	Morristown	5.5 µg/L	No	6	B
95	Talbott	4.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
96	Mountain City	4.3 µg/L	No	51	C
97	Russellville	3.1 µg/L	No	0	A+
98	Dyersburg	3.1 µg/L	No	2	A
99	Jackson	2.8 µg/L	No	0	A-
100	Bartlett	2.5 µg/L	No	0	A
101	Erwin	2.0 µg/L	No	27	A-
102	Atoka	1.8 µg/L	No	5	A-
103	Covington	1.7 µg/L	No	4	A
104	Trimbel	1.7 µg/L	No	2	A-
105	Trimbel	1.7 µg/L	No	0	A
106	Paris	1.6 µg/L	No	0	A-
107	Harvest	1.4 µg/L	No	1	B+
108	Harvest	1.4 µg/L	No	1	B+
109	Milan	1.3 µg/L	No	0	A-
110	Germantown	1.1 µg/L	No	0	A-
111	Brownsville	1.1 µg/L	No	0	A
112	Hixson	1.0 µg/L	No	0	A-
113	Selmer	1.0 µg/L	No	1	A-
114	Union City	0.9 µg/L	No	0	A
115	Humboldt	0.7 µg/L	No	0	A-
116	Springville	0.7 µg/L	No	1	A-
117	Martin	0.6 µg/L	No	0	A
118	Collierville	0.4 µg/L	No	2	A
119	Memphis	0.4 µg/L	No	4	C+
120	Roan Mountain	0.4 µg/L	No	0	B
121	Oakland	0.3 µg/L	No	0	A
122	Huntington	0.1 µg/L	No	0	A-
123	Huntington	0.1 µg/L	No	0	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about haa5 in Tennessee

What is HAA5 and why does it appear in Tennessee tap water?

HAA5 (haloacetic acids) are disinfection byproducts that form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in source water. They are a normal byproduct of the disinfection process that makes water safe to drink. 1 cities in Tennessee exceed the EPA MCL of 60 µg/L. The state average is 23.2 µg/L.

How can I reduce HAA5 exposure from Tennessee drinking water?

Activated carbon filters (granular or block) effectively reduce HAA5. Refrigerator filters and under-sink carbon systems are convenient options. Unlike lead or PFAS, HAA5 levels can also be reduced by letting water stand in an open container, as some species evaporate. Boiling does NOT remove HAA5 and can concentrate them by reducing water volume.

Which Tennessee cities have the highest HAA5 levels?

The cities with the highest average HAA5 concentrations in Tennessee are: Smithville (68.8 µg/L), Lexington (55.9 µg/L), Blountville (51.0 µg/L), Friendsville (49.2 µg/L), New Tazewell (47.2 µg/L). Note: this data is from UCMR 4 testing (2018–2020) and may not reflect current levels.

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