Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
Memphis Municipal Water System
Memphis Municipal Water System delivers tap water graded C (65/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 651,000 residents in Memphis, Tennessee using groundwater from the Memphis Sand Aquifer. The most significant water quality concerns are: Lead detected in source water; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected; Radium-228 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (615) 747-6121.
Is Memphis tap water safe to drink?
Memphis Municipal Water System delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 651,000 residents in Memphis, drawing from groundwater (Memphis Sand Aquifer) and disinfecting with free chlorine.
Public testing data identifies 21 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Arsenic, Arsenic, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Radium-228, Radium-228, Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Radium-228, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Nitrate, Nitrate, Nitrate, Lead, Lead, Lead. 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.
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Memphis Municipal Water System.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead detected at 1.7 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.49 ppb, 622x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.51 ppb.
Radium-228 detected
Moderate concernRadium-228 detected at 0.35 pCi/L.
Contact Memphis Municipal Water System
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Memphis
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for lead (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750When lead is a concern, use a filter certified for lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Reverse osmosis certified for chromium (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Chromium-6 needs reverse osmosis for reliable reduction. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
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 65/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.49 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2022 | 622× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.4 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2024 | 600× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.08 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2023 | 520× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
5.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 57× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
4.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 44× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.86 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 39× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.543 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 27× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.51 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 26× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.401 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2022 | 21× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.389 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2023 | 20× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.372 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 19× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.35 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2024 | 18× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 18× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 18× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
10.5 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 18× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.36 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 17× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.9 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 14× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.9 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 14× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
1.7 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2024 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.19 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2023 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
1.86 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | — |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
10.5 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 18× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
4.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 44× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
1.7 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.4 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 600× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.35 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 18× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.51 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.9 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 14× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 18× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
5.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 57× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.19 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.08 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 520× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.389 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 20× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.372 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 19× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.9 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 14× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
11.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 18× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.86 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 39× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
1.86 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.49 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 622× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.401 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 21× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.543 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 27× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.36 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 17× over |
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, and Memphis Municipal Water System's Consumer Confidence Report.
Memphis Municipal Water System 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.