Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in KNOXVILLE, Tennessee
Tap water in KNOXVILLE, Tennessee receives a grade of C (78/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 4 public water systems, primarily KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD - KUB. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in KNOXVILLE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving KNOXVILLE.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 40.0 ppb, 667x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 30.1 ppb, 301x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 40.8 ppb, 272x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD - KUB (system ID TN0000366) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Water systems serving KNOXVILLE
KNOXVILLE is served by 4 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.
KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD - KUB
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
HALLSDALE-POWELL U.D.
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
FIRST U.D. OF KNOX COUNTY
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
WEST KNOX UTILITY DISTRICT
- Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
- Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Recommended filters for KNOXVILLE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in KNOXVILLE's water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in KNOXVILLE's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
44.4 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 741× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
30.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 309× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.4 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 303× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.6 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 146× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
6.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 100× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
30.3 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
12.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.53 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.729 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 5.2× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0843 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.2× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.42 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 3.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
458.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.2× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0631 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.1× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.173 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
121.0 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
7.09 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
26.5 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.67 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.187 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.06 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.0933 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
3.93 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.75 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.135 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.576 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.098 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| o-toluidine Other |
0.00865 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.133 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD - KUB.