Jefferson County, TN
drinking water quality
59,217 residents · 22 public water systems · 5 ZIP codes
EPA sampled 5 of 22 public water systems here, together serving about 54,889 people. The highest reading was PFOS at 4.2 ng/L at Shady Grove Utility District. 3 of the sampled systems were above a federal limit. Last sampled 9/11/2024.
What was found
| Compound | Highest result | Federal limit | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS | 4.2 ng/L | 4 ng/L | 1.1× |
Also detected, with no federal limit set: PFPeA (4.7 ng/L).
What this means
PFAS are industrial chemicals that EPA describes as breaking down only very slowly in the environment. In April 2024 EPA set the first enforceable national limits: 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ng/L for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX.
These figures are county-level and come from EPA’s sampling of public water systems. They describe the worst result found in the county, not what comes out of any particular tap — that depends on which system serves the address, and on the plumbing in the building. A private well is not covered by this programme at all.
ZIP codes in Jefferson County
37725 · 37760 · 37820 · 37877 · 37890
Readings are county-level, so every ZIP here shares the figure above. Search your ZIP on the map to see it in context.