WaterVerge
Alerts Cities States PFAS Tracker Guides News Maps Glossary Methodology
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%
378 of 15681 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 18K
  2. 2 B- Moscow 11.1 ppb 821
  3. 3 B+ Jefferson City 9.5 ppb 10K
  4. 4 C- Lebanon 7.5 ppb 121K
  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 Jackson 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 New Tazewell 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 2
A-
33 Trimbel 2.7 ppb
No 0
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 Harriman 2.3 ppb
No 1
B+
39 Rutherford 2.3 ppb
No 0
A-
40 Parsons 2.2 ppb
No 15
C+
41 Liberty 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 Wartrace 1.5 ppb
No 4
B
57 Crocket Mills 1.5 ppb
No 1
A-
58 Crocket 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 Hendersonville 1.0 ppb
No 8
A-
76 Franklin 1.0 ppb
No 25
C+
77 Maryville 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
78 Hendersonville 1.0 ppb
No 4
A+
79 Kingsport 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
80 Cleveland 1.0 ppb
No 58
B
81 Columbia 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
82 Mount Juliet 1.0 ppb
No 4
A+
83 Mount Juliet 1.0 ppb
No 4
A+
84 Madison 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
85 Cookeville 1.0 ppb
No 4
B+
86 Franklin 1.0 ppb
No 12
B-
87 Dickson 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
88 Greeneville 1.0 ppb
No 50
C-
89 Crossville 1.0 ppb
No 14
B+
90 Gallatin 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
91 Smyrna 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
92 Shelbyville 1.0 ppb
No 28
C
93 Bartlett 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
94 Bristol 1.0 ppb
No 12
B-
95 Elizabethton 1.0 ppb
No 27
D
96 Collierville 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
97 Mcminnville 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
98 Harriman 1.0 ppb
No 13
D+
99 Morristown 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
100 Springfield 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
101 Sparta 1.0 ppb
No 6
B+
102 Lavergne 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
103 Lewisburg 1.0 ppb
No 3
B+
104 Dandridge 1.0 ppb
No 1
B+
105 Alcoa 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
106 Newport 1.0 ppb
No 3
A
107 Lenoir City 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
108 Jonesborough 1.0 ppb
No 12
A-
109 Brentwood 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
110 Loudon 1.0 ppb
No 5
B+
111 Atoka 1.0 ppb
No 5
A-
112 Knoxville 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
113 Lake City 1.0 ppb
No 2
B-
114 Dyersburg 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
115 Lexington 1.0 ppb
No 11
A-
116 Smithville 1.0 ppb
No 6
C+
117 Athens 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
118 Dayton 1.0 ppb
No 11
B-
119 Winchester 1.0 ppb
No 7
A-
120 Portland 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
121 Rogersville 1.0 ppb
No 40
C-
122 Covington 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
123 Soddy-Daisy 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
124 Etowah 1.0 ppb
No 5
D+
125 Church Hill 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
126 Russellville 1.0 ppb
No 0
A+
127 Jamestown 1.0 ppb
No 21
B
128 Savannah 1.0 ppb
No 9
B+
129 Talbott 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
130 Morrison 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
131 Pleasant View 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
132 Signal Mountain 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
133 Pulaski 1.0 ppb
No 4
B+
134 Ripley 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
135 Paris 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
136 Livingston 1.0 ppb
No 10
A-
137 Blountville 1.0 ppb
No 0
A+
138 Millington 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
139 Madisonville 1.0 ppb
No 6
A-
140 Pigeon Forge 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
141 Bethpage 1.0 ppb
No 10
A
142 Sweetwater 1.0 ppb
No 2
B
143 Dunlap 1.0 ppb
No 2
B
144 Ashland City 1.0 ppb
No 4
A-
145 Lyles 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
146 Jacksboro 1.0 ppb
No 7
D+
147 Hohenwald 1.0 ppb
No 0
B
148 Wartburg 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
149 Woodlawn 1.0 ppb
No 11
B+
150 Gatlinburg 1.0 ppb
No 3
B-
151 Woodbury 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
152 Rockwood 1.0 ppb
No 3
A-
153 Estill Springs 1.0 ppb
No 66
B
154 Centerville 1.0 ppb
No 27
A-
155 Pikeville 1.0 ppb
No 51
B
156 Dover 1.0 ppb
No 29
C-
157 Gainesboro 1.0 ppb
No 39
D
158 Oneida 1.0 ppb
No 25
B+
159 Hartsville 1.0 ppb
No 20
B-
160 Luttrell 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
161 Munford 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
162 Bean Station 1.0 ppb
No 4
A
163 Algood 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
164 Jasper 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
165 Linden 1.0 ppb
No 2
B+
166 New Johnsonville 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
167 Kingston Springs Tn 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
168 Kingston Springs Tn 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
169 Altamont 1.0 ppb
No 6
A
170 Elizabethon 1.0 ppb
No 9
A-
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 Pattsburg 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 Cedar Hill 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 Obion 1.0 ppb
No 3
B+
198 Loretto 1.0 ppb
No 8
A
199 Lobelville 1.0 ppb
No 2
A-
200 Allons 1.0 ppb
No 6
A
201 Moss 1.0 ppb
No 11
B-
202 Monteagle 1.0 ppb
No 6
B
203 Tennessee Ridge 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
204 Clifton 1.0 ppb
No 14
C
205 Allardt 1.0 ppb
No 16
A
206 Niota 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
207 Riceville 1.0 ppb
No 7
A
208 Vanleer 1.0 ppb
No 2
A
209 Englewood 1.0 ppb
No 3
A-
210 Brighton 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
211 Cartahage 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
212 Cartahage 1.0 ppb
No 5
A
213 Mcewen 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
214 Chapel Hill 1.0 ppb
No 43
A-
215 Dresden 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
216 Piperton 1.0 ppb
No 0
A
217 Bluff City 1.0 ppb
No 4
B
218 Cowan 1.0 ppb
No 1
A-
219 Benton 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
220 Mosheim 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
221 Rutledge 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
222 Hornbeak 1.0 ppb
No 2
B+
223 Ridgely 1.0 ppb
No 1
A
224 Big Sandy 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
225 Watertown 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
226 Graysville 1.0 ppb
No 5
B+
227 Mooresburg 1.0 ppb
No 12
B+
228 Huntland 1.0 ppb
No 42
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 New Johnsonville 0.9 ppb
No 5
B+
243 Mountain City 0.9 ppb
No 51
C
244 Adamsville 0.9 ppb
No 0
A
245 Jellico 0.9 ppb
No 6
D+
246 South Fulton 0.9 ppb
No 3
A
247 Troy 0.9 ppb
No 0
A
248 Middleton 0.9 ppb
No 7
D+
249 Kenton 0.9 ppb
No 2
B+
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 La Follette 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 Whitwell 0.3 ppb
No 28
B+
276 Counce 0.3 ppb
No 11
B
277 Mason 0.3 ppb
No 2
B+
278 Greenfield 0.3 ppb
No 0
A-
279 Gleason 0.3 ppb
No 2
A-
280 Lavinia 0.3 ppb
No 1
A
281 Lavinia 0.3 ppb
No 1
A
282 Bradford 0.3 ppb
No 1
A
283 Oakland 0.2 ppb
No 0
A
284 Huntington 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 Sauldbury 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 DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaQCRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore Tennessee water quality → National Lead map →