Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Tennessee Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

121

Cities Tested

121

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

1.8 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

227

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Tennessee: what the data shows

Tennessee has 121 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 121 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Tennessee

100%

121 of 121 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Tennessee

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Tennessee

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Tennessee cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Elizabethton	7 violations	Yes	27	D
2	Mountain City	7 violations	Yes	51	C
3	Hollow Rock	7 violations	Yes	1	A
4	Knoxville	6 violations	Yes	36	C-
5	Dover	5 violations	Yes	29	C-
6	Monterey	5 violations	Yes	10	B-
7	Crossville	4 violations	Yes	14	B+
8	Oneida	4 violations	Yes	25	B+
9	Ardmore	4 violations	Yes	0	F
10	Memphis	3 violations	Yes	4	C+
11	Lebanon	3 violations	Yes	21	C-
12	Kingsport	3 violations	Yes	6	B
13	Greeneville	3 violations	Yes	50	C-
14	Harriman	3 violations	Yes	13	D+
15	Sevierville	3 violations	Yes	11	D
16	Gatlinburg	3 violations	Yes	3	B-
17	Linden	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
18	Obion	3 violations	Yes	3	B+
19	Clifton	3 violations	Yes	14	C
20	Ardmore	3 violations	Yes	0	F
21	Sneedville	3 violations	Yes	23	A-
22	Middleton	3 violations	Yes	7	D+
23	Kenton	3 violations	Yes	2	B+
24	Bartlett	2 violations	Yes	0	A
25	Bristol	2 violations	Yes	12	B-
26	Lewisburg	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
27	Germantown	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
28	Newport	2 violations	Yes	3	A
29	Lenoir City	2 violations	Yes	3	B-
30	Jonesborough	2 violations	Yes	12	A-
31	Harriman	2 violations	Yes	1	B+
32	La Follette	2 violations	Yes	15	D+
33	La Follette	2 violations	Yes	15	D+
34	Lake City	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
35	Clinton	2 violations	Yes	1	A
36	Livingston	2 violations	Yes	10	A-
37	Minor Hill	2 violations	Yes	31	C-
38	Alamo	2 violations	Yes	3	B+
39	Harrogate	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
40	Rockwood	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
41	Pikeville	2 violations	Yes	51	B
42	Whitwell	2 violations	Yes	28	B+
43	Maynardville	2 violations	Yes	80	C
44	Erin	2 violations	Yes	25	B+
45	Spencer	2 violations	Yes	50	D+
46	Waynesboro	2 violations	Yes	2	A-
47	South Fulton	2 violations	Yes	3	A
48	Englewood	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
49	Collinwood	2 violations	Yes	54	B
50	Bluff City	2 violations	Yes	4	B
51	Graysville	2 violations	Yes	5	B+
52	Mooresburg	2 violations	Yes	12	B+
53	Roan Mountain	2 violations	Yes	0	B
54	Butler	2 violations	Yes	9	B+
55	Moscow	2 violations	Yes	1	B-
56	Iron City	2 violations	Yes	0	A-
57	Chattanooga	1 violations	Yes	25	C+
58	Johnson City	1 violations	Yes	0	A
59	Mount Juliet	1 violations	Yes	4	A+
60	Mount Juliet	1 violations	Yes	4	A+
61	Hixson	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
62	Shelbyville	1 violations	Yes	28	C
63	Morristown	1 violations	Yes	6	B
64	Springfield	1 violations	Yes	7	A
65	Oak Ridge	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
66	Fayetteville	1 violations	Yes	2	D
67	Atoka	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
68	Smithville	1 violations	Yes	6	C+
69	Athens	1 violations	Yes	0	A
70	Dayton	1 violations	Yes	11	B-
71	Portland	1 violations	Yes	5	A
72	Lafayette	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
73	Church Hill	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
74	Jamestown	1 violations	Yes	21	B
75	Savannah	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
76	Pleasant View	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
77	Pigeon Forge	1 violations	Yes	1	A
78	Vonore	1 violations	Yes	2	A
79	Sweetwater	1 violations	Yes	2	B
80	Ashland City	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
81	Lyles	1 violations	Yes	2	A
82	Jacksboro	1 violations	Yes	7	D+
83	Parsons	1 violations	Yes	15	C+
84	Wartburg	1 violations	Yes	1	A
85	Woodbury	1 violations	Yes	7	A
86	Hartsville	1 violations	Yes	20	B-
87	Newbern	1 violations	Yes	0	A
88	Altamont	1 violations	Yes	6	A
89	Elizabethon	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
90	Lynchburg	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
91	South Pattsburg	1 violations	Yes	5	A
92	South Pattsburg	1 violations	Yes	5	A
93	Summertown	1 violations	Yes	3	B-
94	Tracy City	1 violations	Yes	29	C
95	Celina	1 violations	Yes	1	A
96	Monteagle	1 violations	Yes	6	B
97	White Pine	1 violations	Yes	2	B
98	Vanleer	1 violations	Yes	2	A
99	Brighton	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
100	Mcewen	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
101	Hampton	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
102	Dyer	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
103	Tiptonville	1 violations	Yes	0	A
104	Norris	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
105	Big Sandy	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
106	Huntland	1 violations	Yes	42	B+
107	Bruceton	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
108	Only	1 violations	Yes	12	A-
109	Lavinia	1 violations	Yes	1	A
110	Lavinia	1 violations	Yes	1	A
111	Rutherford	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
112	Atwood	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
113	Clairfield	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
114	Sharon	1 violations	Yes	0	B
115	Sardis	1 violations	Yes	2	A
116	Petersburg	1 violations	Yes	3	A-
117	Trimbel	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
118	Bethel Springs	1 violations	Yes	1	A
119	Puryear	1 violations	Yes	4	B+
120	Crocket Mills	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
121	Crocket Mills	1 violations	Yes	1	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Tennessee

Is nitrate in Tennessee tap water dangerous?

Yes — 121 cities in Tennessee have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Tennessee water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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