Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
JACKSON WATER SYSTEM
JACKSON WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water graded D (62/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 91,111 residents in JACKSON, Tennessee using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 731-422-7398.
Is JACKSON tap water safe to drink?
JACKSON WATER SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 91,111 residents in JACKSON, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Chromium (hexavalent), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Dibromochloromethane. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for JACKSON residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for JACKSON WATER SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 8.15 ppt, 8150x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.4 ppb, 100x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 4.07 ppb, 68x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact JACKSON WATER SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for JACKSON
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 62/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
5.2 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | EPA violation |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
8.15 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 8150× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.4 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 100× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.07 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 68× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
7.7 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 51× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.75 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.94 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 14× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.9 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 14× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.21 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.303 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 5.0× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.353 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3.5× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.0333 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.025 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
33.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
8.71 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0119 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0119 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.585 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.113 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
1.8 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.066 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.75 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
JACKSON WATER SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Madison County, Tennessee. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for JACKSON water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.