PFAS above EPA’s limits in Tennessee.
The short answer
17 utilities serving 344,152 people, as they report it, had a location averaging above a limit, most often PFOS (15) and PFOA (12). The largest is Jackson Water System, whose highest PFOS average was 15 ppt, 3.8 times the limit. The furthest above is Savannah Valley U.D., at 8 times the PFOA limit.
These are EPA’s survey results, not violations: the limits take effect April 26, 2029, and compliance will rest on each utility’s own monitoring. EPA has proposed changes to the rule; as of Oct. 13, 2026, none is final.
Utilities above a limit
Largest first. Each one’s highest location average is for the limit it is furthest above, with the single highest sample of the same PFAS; its report has every result.
| Utility | Based in | Serves | Above | Highest location average | Highest single sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Water System | Jackson | 91,111 | PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.8 times the limit | 20 ppt |
| Fort Campbell Water System | Ft. Campbell | 43,270 | PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, Hazard Index | PFOS 25 ppt6.2 times the limit | 27 ppt |
| Shelbyville Water System | Shelbyville | 36,813 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 5.8 ppt1.5 times the limit | 7.9 ppt |
| Tullahoma Utilities Authority | Tullahoma | 30,958 | PFOA | PFOA 8.6 ppt2.2 times the limit | 9.6 ppt |
| Savannah Valley U.D. | Georgetown | 30,571 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 32 ppt8 times the limit | 35 ppt |
| Manchester Water Department | Manchester | 24,975 | PFOA | PFOA 4.4 ppt1.1 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| Savannah Utility Department | Savannah | 19,495 | PFOS | PFOS 11 ppt2.8 times the limit | 16 ppt |
| Erwin Utilities Authority | Erwin | 12,478 | PFOS | PFOS 6.6 ppt1.6 times the limit | 6.7 ppt |
| Hillsville Utility District | Manchester | 11,325 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 8.7 ppt2.2 times the limit | 12 ppt |
| Camden Water Dept | Camden | 10,013 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 16 ppt4 times the limit | 24 ppt |
| First U.D. of Hardin County | Counce | 7,602 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 16 ppt4.1 times the limit | 26 ppt |
| Trenton Water System | Trenton | 5,155 | PFOS | PFOS 24 ppt6 times the limit | 27 ppt |
| Scotts Hill Water System | Scotts Hill | 4,579 | PFOS | PFOS 12 ppt3.1 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| Parsons Water Department | Parsons | 4,303 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 11 ppt2.7 times the limit | 13 ppt |
| Clifton Water Dept | Clifton | 4,110 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 14 ppt3.6 times the limit | 17 ppt |
| North U.Dep. of Decatur/Benton Co | Parsons | 3,818 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOS 15 ppt3.8 times the limit | 20 ppt |
| Wartrace Water System | Wartrace | 3,576 | PFOA, PFOS | PFOA 9.0 ppt2.2 times the limit | 12 ppt |
19 more utilities in Tennessee had a single sample above a limit but no location average above, so they are not listed; each report shows the sample.
Results: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026, samples from Jan. 3, 2023 to June 17, 2026, averaged by sampling location as EPA’s final UCMR 5 data summary does. Every state, and the full data as a CSV; how this list is made. People served is what each utility reports.
Where to go next
- Jackson Water System’s reportEvery PFAS result with its dates, and the certification claim that handles each.Open the report
- Every stateThe national list, the largest utilities above a limit, and the data to download.PFAS above EPA’s limits
- Filters certified for PFASRanked by certification and what they cost over five years.Best water filters for PFAS