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Lead Contamination

Lead in Tennessee Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

299
Cities Tested
0
Exceeds Limit
0%
% Exceeds Limit
1.4 ppb
State Avg
▼ 2% vs national
vs National
227
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in Tennessee: what the data shows

Tennessee has 299 cities with lead monitoring data, with no cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 1.4 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. No cities in Tennessee currently exceed the 15 ppb lead action level. However, even levels below the action level can pose health risks, particularly for infants and young children. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Tennessee
0%
0 of 299 cities
← ▼ 2% below national rate (better)
National avg
2%
352 of 15325 cities
City Map

Lead data across Tennessee

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Tennessee

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 B+ New Tazewell 12.0 ppb 16K
  2. 2 B- Moscow 11.1 ppb 821
  3. 3 B+ Jefferson City 9.5 ppb 10K
  4. 4 C- Lebanon 7.5 ppb 101K
  5. 5 B New Market 7.0 ppb 6K
  6. 6 A- Pleasant Hill 6.3 ppb 6K
  7. 7 B Nolensville 6.2 ppb 33K
  8. 8 B White Pine 5.2 ppb 4K
  9. 9 B Bell Buckle 5.0 ppb 3K
  10. 10 A- Iron City 4.9 ppb 729
All Cities

All Tennessee cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 New Tazewell 12.0 ppb
No 3
B+
2 Moscow 11.1 ppb
No 1
B-
3 Jefferson City 9.5 ppb
No 7
B+
4 Lebanon 7.5 ppb
No 21
C-
5 New Market 7.0 ppb
No 1
B
6 Pleasant Hill 6.3 ppb
No 1
A-
7 Nolensville 6.2 ppb
No 8
B
8 White Pine 5.2 ppb
No 2
B
9 Bell Buckle 5.0 ppb
No 2
B
10 Iron City 4.9 ppb
No 0
A-
11 Gates 4.9 ppb
No 2
A
12 Nashville 4.7 ppb
No 5
C+
13 Ardmore 4.6 ppb
No 0
F
14 Ardmore 4.6 ppb
No 0
F
15 Saltillo 4.4 ppb
No 0
A-
16 Sneedville 4.3 ppb
No 23
A-
17 Martin 4.2 ppb
No 0
A
18 Bells 4.1 ppb
No 2
B+
19 Byrdstown 4.0 ppb
No 24
C-
20 Townsend 4.0 ppb
No 0
A-
21 Clarksburg 4.0 ppb
No 2
A
22 Humboldt 3.8 ppb
No 0
A-
23 Harrogate 3.5 ppb
No 2
A-
24 Summertown 3.2 ppb
No 3
B-
25 Lafayette 3.0 ppb
No 3
A-
26 Sevierville 3.0 ppb
No 11
D
27 Surgoinsville 2.9 ppb
No 4
A-
28 Oak Ridge 2.9 ppb
No 1
A-
29 Sharon 2.9 ppb
No 0
B
30 Lawrenceburg 2.8 ppb
No 1
B+
31 Hampton 2.7 ppb
No 0
A-
32 Trimbel 2.7 ppb
No 0
A
33 Trimble 2.7 ppb
No 2
A-
34 Newbern 2.5 ppb
No 0
A
35 Memphis 2.4 ppb
No 4
C+
36 Bolivar 2.4 ppb
No 2
B
37 Michie 2.4 ppb
No 0
A
38 Kingston 2.3 ppb
No 1
B+
39 Rutherford 2.3 ppb
No 0
A-
40 Parsons 2.2 ppb
No 15
C+
41 Dowelltown 2.2 ppb
No 3
D
42 Liberty 2.2 ppb
No 3
D
43 Decherd 2.2 ppb
No 9
A-
44 Norris 2.1 ppb
No 0
A-
45 Tullahoma 2.1 ppb
No 0
B+
46 Milan 2.1 ppb
No 0
A-
47 Hixson 2.0 ppb
No 0
A-
48 Belvidere 2.0 ppb
No 8
B+
49 Minor Hill 2.0 ppb
No 31
C-
50 Huntsville 2.0 ppb
No 0
A+
51 Maynardville 2.0 ppb
No 80
C
52 Germantown 1.9 ppb
No 0
A-
53 Georgetown 1.8 ppb
No 2
B
54 Halls 1.7 ppb
No 0
A+
55 Wartrace 1.5 ppb
No 4
B
56 Watrtace 1.5 ppb
No 4
B
57 Crocket Mills 1.5 ppb
No 1
A-
58 Crockett Mills 1.5 ppb
No 1
A-
59 Clinton 1.4 ppb
No 1
A
60 Dyer 1.4 ppb
No 0
A-
61 Tiptonville 1.4 ppb
No 0
A
62 Hornsby 1.4 ppb
No 1
A-
63 Johnson City 1.3 ppb
No 0
A
64 Henderson 1.3 ppb
No 0
A-
65 Decaturville 1.3 ppb
No 3
A-
66 Trezevant 1.3 ppb
No 0
A-
67 Puryear 1.2 ppb
No 4
B+
68 Fayetteville 1.1 ppb
No 2
D
69 Brownsville 1.1 ppb
No 0
A
70 Henning 1.1 ppb
No 1
B+
71 Toone 1.1 ppb
No 0
A-
72 Knoxville 1.0 ppb
No 36
C-
73 Clarksville 1.0 ppb
No 8
B
74 Chattanooga 1.0 ppb
No 25
C+
75 Franklin 1.0 ppb
No 25
C+
76 White House 1.0 ppb
No 4
A+
77 Kingsport 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
78 Columbia 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
79 Maryville 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
80 Cleveland 1.0 ppb
No 58
B
81 Mount Juliet 1.0 ppb
No 4
A+
82 Mt. Juliet 1.0 ppb
No 4
A+
83 Madison 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
84 Cookeville 1.0 ppb
No 4
B+
85 Franklin Pike 1.0 ppb
No 12
B-
86 Dickson 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
87 Greeneville 1.0 ppb
No 50
C-
88 Crossville 1.0 ppb
No 14
B+
89 Gallatin 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
90 Smyrna 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
91 Hendersonville 1.0 ppb
No 8
A-
92 Shelbyville 1.0 ppb
No 28
C
93 Bartlett 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
94 Elizabethton 1.0 ppb
No 27
D
95 Collierville 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
96 Mcminnville 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
97 Bristol 1.0 ppb
No 12
B-
98 Morristown 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
99 Springfield 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
100 Sparta 1.0 ppb
No 6
B+
101 Lavergne 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
102 Lewisburg 1.0 ppb
No 3
B+
103 Dandridge 1.0 ppb
No 1
B+
104 Alcoa 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
105 Newport 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
106 Lenoir City 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
107 Jonesborough 1.0 ppb
No 12
A-
108 Harriman 1.0 ppb
No 13
D+
109 Brentwood 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
110 Loudon 1.0 ppb
No 5
B+
111 Corryton 1.0 ppb
No 1
A+
112 Dyersburg 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
113 Lexington 1.0 ppb
No 11
A-
114 Smithville 1.0 ppb
No 6
C+
115 Athens 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
116 Lake City 1.0 ppb
No 2
B-
117 Dayton 1.0 ppb
No 11
B-
118 Winchester 1.0 ppb
No 7
A-
119 Portland 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
120 Covington 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
121 Rogersville 1.0 ppb
No 40
C-
122 Church Hill 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
123 Soddy-Daisy 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
124 Russellville 1.0 ppb
No 0
A+
125 Jamestown 1.0 ppb
No 21
B
126 Savannah 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
127 Talbott 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
128 Morrison 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
129 Pleasant View 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
130 Signal Mountain 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
131 Pulaski 1.0 ppb
No 4
B+
132 Ripley 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
133 Paris 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
134 Livingston 1.0 ppb
No 10
A-
135 Blountville 1.0 ppb
No 0
A+
136 Millington 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
137 Madisonville 1.0 ppb
No 6
A-
138 Pigeon Forge 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
139 Bethpage 1.0 ppb
No 10
A
140 Sweetwater 1.0 ppb
No 2
B
141 Dunlap 1.0 ppb
No 2
B
142 Etowah 1.0 ppb
No 5
D+
143 Ashland City 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
144 Lyles 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
145 Hohenwald 1.0 ppb
No 0
B
146 Wartburg 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
147 Woodlawn 1.0 ppb
No 11
B+
148 Woodbury 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
149 Rockwood 1.0 ppb
No 3
A-
150 Estill Springs 1.0 ppb
No 66
B
151 Jacksboro 1.0 ppb
No 7
D+
152 Centerville 1.0 ppb
No 27
A-
153 Pikeville 1.0 ppb
No 51
B
154 Gatlinburg 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
155 Oneida 1.0 ppb
No 25
B+
156 Hartsville 1.0 ppb
No 20
B-
157 Luttrell 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
158 Munford 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
159 Bean Station 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
160 Dover 1.0 ppb
No 29
C-
161 Algood 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
162 Jasper 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
163 Linden 1.0 ppb
No 2
B+
164 Waverly 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
165 Kingston Springs 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
166 Kingston Springs Tn 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
167 Altamont 1.0 ppb
No 6
A
168 Atoka 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
169 Elizabethon 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
170 Gainesboro 1.0 ppb
No 39
D
171 Mount Pleasant 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
172 South Carthage 1.0 ppb
No 1
B
173 Spring City 1.0 ppb
No 24
B
174 Monterey 1.0 ppb
No 10
B-
175 Rickman 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
176 Mohawk 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
177 Erin 1.0 ppb
No 25
B+
178 Baxter 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
179 South Pattsburg 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
180 South Pittsburg 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
181 Springville 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
182 Bakewell 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
183 Decatur 1.0 ppb
No 42
A
184 Leoma 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
185 Red Boiling Springs 1.0 ppb
No 106
B
186 Sewanee 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
187 Adams 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
188 Cedar Hill 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
189 Westmoreland 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
190 Celina 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
191 Friendsville 1.0 ppb
No 2
A-
192 Oliver Springs 1.0 ppb
No 1
B+
193 Waynesboro 1.0 ppb
No 2
A-
194 Riddleton 1.0 ppb
No 8
B
195 Gordonsville 1.0 ppb
No 7
B+
196 Somerville 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
197 Loretto 1.0 ppb
No 8
A
198 Lobelville 1.0 ppb
No 2
A-
199 Allons 1.0 ppb
No 6
A
200 Moss 1.0 ppb
No 11
B-
201 Monteagle 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
202 Tennessee Ridge 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
203 Clifton 1.0 ppb
No 14
C
204 Allardt 1.0 ppb
No 16
A
205 Niota 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
206 Riceville 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
207 Vanleer 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
208 Englewood 1.0 ppb
No 3
A-
209 Brighton 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
210 Cartahage 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
211 Carthage 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
212 Mcewen 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
213 Chapel Hill 1.0 ppb
No 43
A-
214 Dresden 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
215 Piperton 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
216 Bluff City 1.0 ppb
No 4
B
217 Cowan 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
218 Benton 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
219 Mosheim 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
220 Rutledge 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
221 Hornbeak 1.0 ppb
No 2
B+
222 Ridgely 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
223 Big Sandy 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
224 Watertown 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
225 Graysville 1.0 ppb
No 5
B+
226 Mooresburg 1.0 ppb
No 12
B+
227 Huntland 1.0 ppb
No 42
B+
228 Obion 1.0 ppb
No 3
B+
229 Only 1.0 ppb
No 12
A-
230 St Joseph 1.0 ppb
No 2
B-
231 Copperhill 1.0 ppb
No 26
B
232 Whiteville 1.0 ppb
No 0
B
233 Lynnville 1.0 ppb
No 4
B+
234 Clairfield 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
235 Roan Mountain 1.0 ppb
No 0
B
236 Butler 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
237 Petersburg 1.0 ppb
No 3
A-
238 Cumberland City 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
239 Hornbreak 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
240 Calhoun 0.9 ppb
No 0
A-
241 Selmer 0.9 ppb
No 1
A-
242 Mountain City 0.9 ppb
No 51
C
243 Adamsville 0.9 ppb
No 0
A
244 Jellico 0.9 ppb
No 6
D+
245 South Fulton 0.9 ppb
No 3
A
246 New Johnsonville 0.9 ppb
No 5
B+
247 Troy 0.9 ppb
No 0
A
248 Kenton 0.9 ppb
No 2
B+
249 Middleton 0.9 ppb
No 7
D+
250 Stanton 0.9 ppb
No 0
A-
251 Friendship 0.8 ppb
No 2
B+
252 Manchester 0.7 ppb
No 2
D+
253 Union City 0.7 ppb
No 0
A
254 Tracy City 0.7 ppb
No 29
C
255 Scotts Hill 0.7 ppb
No 1
A-
256 Henry 0.7 ppb
No 1
A-
257 Murfreesboro 0.6 ppb
No 4
B+
258 Lafollette 0.6 ppb
No 15
D+
259 La Follette 0.6 ppb
No 15
D+
260 Erwin 0.6 ppb
No 27
A-
261 Atwood 0.6 ppb
No 2
B+
262 Jackson 0.5 ppb
No 0
A-
263 Spring Hill 0.5 ppb
No 2
A-
264 Trenton 0.5 ppb
No 3
B
265 Vonore 0.5 ppb
No 2
A
266 Tellico Plains 0.5 ppb
No 0
B-
267 Turtletown 0.5 ppb
No 1
A
268 Sugar Tree 0.5 ppb
No 0
B+
269 Unicoi 0.4 ppb
No 0
A
270 Alexandria 0.4 ppb
No 2
B-
271 Rossville 0.4 ppb
No 0
A-
272 Alamo 0.3 ppb
No 3
B+
273 Camden 0.3 ppb
No 5
A-
274 Greenbrier 0.3 ppb
No 2
A-
275 Counce 0.3 ppb
No 11
B
276 Mason 0.3 ppb
No 2
B+
277 Greenfield 0.3 ppb
No 0
A-
278 Gleason 0.3 ppb
No 2
A-
279 Cedar Grove 0.3 ppb
No 1
A
280 Lavinia 0.3 ppb
No 1
A
281 Bradford 0.3 ppb
No 1
A
282 Whitwell 0.3 ppb
No 28
B+
283 Oakland 0.2 ppb
No 0
A
284 Huntingdon 0.2 ppb
No 0
A-
285 Huntington 0.2 ppb
No 0
A-
286 Spencer 0.2 ppb
No 50
D+
287 Mckenzie 0.2 ppb
No 0
B+
288 Collinwood 0.2 ppb
No 54
B
289 Bruceton 0.2 ppb
No 0
A-
290 Sardis 0.2 ppb
No 2
A
291 Hollow Rock 0.2 ppb
No 1
A
292 Bethel Springs 0.2 ppb
No 1
A
293 Sauldbury 0.2 ppb
No 1
A-
294 Saulsbury 0.2 ppb
No 1
A-
295 Lynchburg 0.1 ppb
No 3
A-
296 Maury City 0.1 ppb
No 0
A-
297 Gallaway 0.1 ppb
No 0
A
298 Harvest 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
299 Harvest 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Tennessee

Is lead in Tennessee tap water a concern?

Currently, no cities in Tennessee exceed the 15 ppb EPA lead action level. The state average is 1.4 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Tennessee tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Tennessee cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Tennessee are: New Tazewell (12.0 ppb), Moscow (11.1 ppb), Jefferson City (9.5 ppb), Lebanon (7.5 ppb), New Market (7.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

Other contaminants in Tennessee

PFAS in Tennessee
Ranked by compounds detected
→
Copper in Tennessee
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
→
HAA5 in Tennessee
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
→
Chromium-6 in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Arsenic in Tennessee
Ranked by violation count
→
Nitrate in Tennessee
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
1,4-Dioxane in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Manganese in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Vanadium in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Chlorate in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Molybdenum in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Cobalt in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Lithium in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
NDMA in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
→
Perchlorate in Tennessee
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore Tennessee water quality → National Lead map →