We read 10 results from Murfreesboro Water Department’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 111,365 people · Water system ID TN0000491 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)single sample · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 1.26 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 53 homes tested, 1 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.6 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal3x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)single sample · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.08 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumsingle sample · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.007 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 1.42 to 3.49 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 6 | 3.49 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 9.2 to 49.4 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 6 | 29.7 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 23.2 to 76.1 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 6 | 55.3 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideaverage · range 0.59 to 0.74 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.69 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)single sample · Treated water · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.84 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 6 | 0.06 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal 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. 2 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Murfreesboro Water Department’s water between May 2023 and Feb 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA6 pptFound in 1 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFBS13.9 pptFound in 1 of 4 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
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.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
More districts: Tennessee water quality · All states · Something look wrong? Tell us