Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Knoxville, TN tap water
24 contaminants were measured in the Knoxville, TN water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 24
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- TN
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Knoxville, TN's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- TENNESSEE RIVER
Treatment
- TN RIVER
- MARK B WHITAKER PLANT
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Sep 2012resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.7–2.5 mg/LRangeor Level Detected | 4 mg/LMRDLG | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 45 ug/LRangeor Level Detected | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 33 ug/LRangeor Level Detected | None set | Within the limit |
| Chlorite | 0.02–0.02 mg/LRangeor Level Detected | 0.8 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.158–0.251 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 1–2.3 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0 ug/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 25 ug/LRangeor Level Detected | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 31 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 24 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 5 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 11 mg/LRangeor Level Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 87 ug/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.41–0.58 mg/LRangeor Level Detected | 4 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.42 mg/LRangeor Level Detected | 10 mg/LMCLG | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 18 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 14 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.02–0.09 NTURangeor Level Detected | None set | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 74 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 91 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.3AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 218AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 1.9–2.4 mg/LRangeor Level Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 150 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acidPerfluorobutanesulfonic acid, a shorter-chain PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 3.7 ng/LReported levelSystem-wide | 2 ng/LNL | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Knoxville, TN's water
+Is Knoxville, TN tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 24 contaminants measured in Knoxville, TN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Knoxville, TN tap water?
24 contaminants were measured in Knoxville, TN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 7 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Knoxville, TN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Knoxville, TN's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.