Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER
MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER delivers tap water graded B (77/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 659,500 residents in MEMPHIS, Tennessee using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline.
Is MEMPHIS tap water safe to drink?
MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (77/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 659,500 residents in MEMPHIS, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Dibromochloromethane, Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Chloroform, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate. 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 MEMPHIS residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 6.75 ppb, 45x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernBromodichloromethane detected at 2.46 ppb, 41x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 1.58 ppb, 26x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Contact MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER
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 MEMPHIS
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 77/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
6.75 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.46 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
1.58 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 26× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.74 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.85 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 17× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
2.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.3× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
0.432 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 4.3× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.376 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.9× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.206 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.5× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.011 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
71.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.046 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
40.2 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0095 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.31 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
3.59 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0563 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0357 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.165 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.
MEMPHIS LIGHT, GAS, & WATER service area
This water system serves 1 community in Shelby County, Tennessee. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MEMPHIS water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.