Is Chattanooga, TN tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Tennessee American Water. 2 PFAS were detected below the limits.

5 public water systems serve parts of Chattanooga. The largest, Tennessee American Water, serves 207,046 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Tennessee American Water

207,046 people · Surface water · EPA ID TN0000107

Buys treated water from Eastside Utility District, Hixson Utility District.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0

Full Tennessee American Water results

Across Tennessee, 17 of 275 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 0 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Tennessee results.

Chattanooga homes and lead pipes

55%

of homes built before 1980 (Tennessee 41%, US 50%)

18%

built before 1950 (Tennessee 10%)

48%

of households rent (Tennessee 33%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Chattanooga city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Chattanooga
Tennessee American Water 207,046 people	37351, 37402, 37403, 37404, 37405, 37406, 37407, 37408, 37409, 37410, 37411, 37415, 37416, 37419, 37421, 37450
Hixson Utility District 68,306 people	37343

Other water systems serving Chattanooga

Hixson Utility District
68,306 people · Groundwater · Tennessee · reported ZIPs here
PFHxS detected
Eastside Utility District
59,612 people · Surface water · Tennessee · lists this city
No PFAS above limits
Suck Creek Water System
645 people · Groundwater · Tennessee · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sample
River Landing Condominium Association
52 people · Groundwater under influence of surface water · Tennessee · lists this city
Not in EPA's PFAS sampleAlso: 12 health-based violations since 2016

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Cleveland 23 mi Cleveland Utilities	Cleveland Utilities	None above limits	1 ppb
Shelbyville 74 mi Shelbyville Water System	Shelbyville Water System	Above limit	1 ppb
Cookeville 76 mi Cookeville Water Dept	Cookeville Water Dept	None above limits	1 ppb
Oak Ridge 82 mi Oak Ridge Dept of Public Works	Oak Ridge Dept of Public Works	None above limits	2.91 ppb
Murfreesboro 86 mi Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County	Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County	None above limits	1 ppb
Maryville 86 mi South Blount Utility District	South Blount Utility District	None above limits	4.01 ppb

Questions

Is Chattanooga tap water safe to drink?

Tennessee American Water has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Chattanooga, TN?

5 public water systems serve parts of Chattanooga. The largest is Tennessee American Water (207,046 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Chattanooga tap water have PFAS?

Tennessee American Water had 2 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Chattanooga homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 55% of Chattanooga homes as built before 1980 (Tennessee: 41%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Tennessee American Water's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.