We read 11 results from Kingsport Water Dept’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 106,765 people · Water system ID TN0000349 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper90th percentile of 50 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.42 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Above the health goal1.4x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range 1.7 to 2.1 · printed as 0.0019 ug/L · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 10 | 1.9 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal271x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range 1.4 to 2.2 · printed as 0.0018 ug/L · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 10 | 1.8 ppt | 1 ppt | 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal1.8x the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 1.3 to 2 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 2 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 19.1 to 59 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 46.8 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23.8 to 54.6 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 8 | 49.4 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.31 to 0.46 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.38 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 50 homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 8 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · Treated water · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.52 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · range 0.02 to 0.07 · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 8 | 0.07 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Sodiumsingle sample · Treated water · 2025 report, page 8 | 5.28 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Kingsport Water Dept’s water between Feb 2023 and Nov 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOS5.9 pptFound in 1 of 12 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- Lithium76.6 ppbFound in 3 of 12 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Copper
Found: Copper
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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