Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Memphis, TN tap water
12 contaminants were measured in the Memphis, TN water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 12
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- TN
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Memphis, TN's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 196 sources.
Source
- LITCHTERMANN ST WELL - · 22
- MCCORD STATION WELL - · 18
- MORTON STATION WELL - · 17
- SHAW STATION WELL - · 16
- + 81 more
Treatment
- SHEAHAN ST (24)
- ALLEN ST (31)
- MCCORD ST (25)
- + 18 more
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
3 historically-detected contaminants in Memphis, TN
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2016 | 0.0294 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2019 | 0.0225 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2018 | 0.432 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '14'15'17'18 |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.3490th percentileAt the tap | 1.3MCLG | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 4.7390th percentileAt the tap | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 8.9AverageSystem-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. | 0.6AverageSystem-wide | 4MCL | Within the limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.6 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 0.7 pCi/LAverageSystem-wide | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 1.2AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 41Highest single sampleMonthly Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.06–0.88Rangeof Amount Detected | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Memphis, TN's water
+Is Memphis, TN tap water safe to drink in 2024?
Every one of the 12 contaminants measured in Memphis, 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 Memphis, TN tap water?
12 contaminants were measured in Memphis, TN's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, 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 Memphis, 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 Memphis, 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.