Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Nashville, TN tap water
57 contaminants were measured in the Nashville, TN water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 57
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- pH
- Service area
- TN
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Nashville, TN's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- CUMBERLAND RIVER-PLANT 1 K.R. HARRINGTON
- CUMBERLAND RIVER-PLANT 2 OMOHUNDRO
Treatment
- CUMB UD PLANT
- HARRINGTON PLNT
- OMOHUNDRO PLANT
- + 2 more
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in Nashville, 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: 2014 | 0.0654 mg/L 1.1× | 0.06 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TTHM worst: 2014 | 0.0785 mg/L 98% | 0.08 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2014 | 0.843 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2014 | 0.544 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
TWOFOURD worst: 2018 | 0.0002 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.07 mg/L | '15'18 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 6.91–7.21RangeSystem-wide | 6.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 119–172RangeSystem-wide | 500MCL | Within the limit |
| ColorA measure of visible tint in the water. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 15MCL | None detected |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 3MCL | None detected |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 54.4–86.9RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 66.4–101.3RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TemperatureThe measured temperature of the water sample. | 6–27.7RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 29.2–42.8RangeSystem-wide | 250MCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 9.04–16.8RangeSystem-wide | 250MCL | Within the limit |
| Asbestos | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 7MCL | None detected |
| Cyanide | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.2MCL | None detected |
| Dibromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | None set | None detected |
| Monobromoacetic acidA brominated haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | None set | None detected |
| NitriteA compound from fertilizer runoff, sewage, and erosion of natural deposits. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 1MCL | None detected |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 4–5.7RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Trichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 3.4–5.6RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.016–0.0168RangeSystem-wide | 0.2MCL | Within the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.0012Reported levelMetro Water Services | 0.05MCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0016Reported levelMetro Water Services | 0.1MCL | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0.0001–0.0001RangeSystem-wide | 0.01MCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.001–0.001RangeSystem-wide | 0.1MCL | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.0185–0.0194RangeSystem-wide | 2MCL | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.002RangeSystem-wide | 1.3MCL | Within the limit |
| Antimony | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 0.006MCL | None detected |
| Beryllium | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.004MCL | None detected |
| Cadmium | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 0.005MCL | None detected |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 0.3MCL | None detected |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 0.015MCL | None detected |
| MercuryA toxic metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial runoff. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.002MCL | None detected |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.05MCL | None detected |
| Thallium | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 0.002MCL | None detected |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 5MCL | None detected |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 7.8–11.3RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromoformA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | Not detectedReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| BromodichloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 1.7–3.8RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| ChloroformA trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. | 8.3–12.8RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| DibromochloromethaneA trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. | 0.9RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 3MCL | None detected |
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 15MCL | None detected |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2,3-TCP | Not detectedReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| AtrazineA widely used agricultural herbicide that reaches water through runoff. | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 3MCL | None detected |
| Benzene | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.005MCL | None detected |
| Benzo(a)pyrene | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 0.2MCL | None detected |
| ChloroethaneA volatile organic compound used in some industrial processes. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Chloromethane | Not detectedReported levelSystem-wide | None set | None detected |
| Dalapon | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 200MCL | None detected |
| Dichloromethane | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.005MCL | None detected |
| Ethylbenzene | Not detectedReported levelSystem-wide | 0.7MCL | None detected |
| Simazine | Not detectedReported levelMetro Water Services | 4MCL | None detected |
| TetrachloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.005MCL | None detected |
| Toluene | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 1MCL | None detected |
| TrichloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (TCE) used in metal degreasing. | Not detectedRangeSystem-wide | 0.005MCL | None detected |
| XylenesA group of industrial solvents found in gasoline and paint. | Not detectedReported levelSystem-wide | 10MCL | None detected |
People also ask about Nashville, TN's water
+Is Nashville, TN tap water safe to drink in 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Nashville, TN water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: pH. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Nashville, TN tap water?
57 contaminants were measured in Nashville, TN's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, vocs & pesticides, and inorganic chemicals. 42 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Nashville, TN tap water?
One contaminant in Nashville, TN's 2023 report sits at or above the federal limit: pH (1.1× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Nashville, TN tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is pH, at 1.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Nashville, TN's 2023 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 Nashville, 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 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.