Is Franklin, 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 Franklin Water Dept. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.

3 public water systems serve parts of Franklin. The largest, Franklin Water Dept, serves 77,222 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Franklin Water Dept

77,222 people · Surface water · EPA ID TN0000246

Buys treated water from Harpeth Valley 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: 7

Full Franklin Water Dept 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.

Franklin homes and lead pipes

13%

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

built before 1950 (Tennessee 10%)

36%

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 Franklin city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Franklin

Milcrofton Utility District
38,032 people · Purchased surface water · Tennessee · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits
Mallory Valley Utility District
31,703 people · Purchased surface water · Tennessee · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Brentwood 7 mi Metro Water Services	Metro Water Services	None above limits	0.8 ppb
Spring Hill 13 mi Spring Hill Water Dept	Spring Hill Water Dept	None above limits	0.5 ppb
Nashville 18 mi Metro Water Services	Metro Water Services	None above limits	0.8 ppb
La Vergne 18 mi Metro Water Services	Metro Water Services	None above limits	0.8 ppb
Smyrna 19 mi Smyrna Water System	Smyrna Water System	None above limits	1 ppb
Columbia 23 mi Columbia Power and Water Systems	Columbia Power and Water Systems	None above limits	1 ppb

Franklin ZIP codes (2)

37064
37067

Questions

Is Franklin tap water safe to drink?

Franklin Water Dept had 7 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 Franklin, TN?

3 public water systems serve parts of Franklin. The largest is Franklin Water Dept (77,222 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Franklin tap water have PFAS?

Franklin Water Dept had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.

Do Franklin homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 13% of Franklin 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. Franklin Water Dept'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.