Chattanooga, TN Water Quality Report
Is Chattanooga tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Chattanooga, Tennessee. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Chattanooga, TN tap water safe to drink? Chattanooga, TN tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 6.59 ppt across 2 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Chattanooga, TN water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Chattanooga water: PFBS (9.5 ppt), PFBA (8.5 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Chattanooga, TN? For Chattanooga, TN households, reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. Pitcher and faucet filters certified to NSF-53 for PFAS (ZeroWater, PUR PLUS) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Chattanooga, TN Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Chattanooga, TN drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 9.5 ppt across 1 water system, representing an average of 6.59 ppt across 2 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFBS: 9.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBA: 8.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Chattanooga, TN Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 21 lead samples for Chattanooga water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.561 mg/L (above the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga public water systems have 21 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
Source: EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5), the 2023-2025 national testing program spanning about 10,000 public water systems – the broadest PFAS survey ever run in the US. Chattanooga, TN serves a population of roughly 181,099.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Chattanooga, TN to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Chattanooga, Tennessee Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your Tennessee utility – it is free and updated annually
- Choose a filter certified for PFAS: NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis (94-99% removal) or an NSF-53 pitcher
- High-exposure households (pregnancy, infants, immunocompromised) should also consider a PFAS home test kit