Is Knoxville tap water safe to drink?

Yes with good quality

Knoxville's tap water meets all EPA standards and scores well on our analysis. It is generally safe to drink though filtration can improve taste and provide extra precaution.

82/100
Purity Score
2
Issues Found
4.6 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

2 Issues Detected in Knoxville

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Knoxville

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Knoxville
Tennessee

379,013,790,237,912 · Tennessee River Fort Loudoun Lake

Knoxville Tap Water Report: Safety and Contaminants

Low Risk Updated March 2026 190,000 residents
See Best Filters for Knoxville
82
Purity Score

Residents of Knoxville draw from Tennessee River Fort Loudoun Lake infrastructure managed by Knoxville Utilities Board. This 2026 analysis evaluates safety, identifies any concerns, and recommends the best home filtration options.

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
2 ppb
Nitrate
0.6 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
4.6 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Knoxville's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

82 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Knoxville tap water is sourced from Tennessee River Fort Loudoun Lake and treated by Knoxville Utilities Board. Overall purity score: 82/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Knoxville's 2 issues.

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Explore Knoxville Water Data

PFAS Levels in KnoxvillePFAS testing data
Knoxville Lead LevelsLead testing data
Water Hardness in KnoxvilleHardness levels
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Knoxville Water FAQ

Is Knoxville TN tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Knoxville tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 82/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Knoxville TN use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Knoxville uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.4 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Knoxville TN water and what is the TDS level?
Knoxville water hardness is 4.6 grains per gallon (moderate) with a TDS of 160 ppm (good). This level is unlikely to cause significant scale buildup in household plumbing.
Has PFAS been found in Knoxville TN drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Knoxville drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Knoxville?
Based on Knoxville's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Knoxville has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

MemphisTennessee — 82/100NashvilleTennessee — 82/100ChattanoogaTennessee — 82/100ClarksvilleTennessee — 82/100MurfreesboroTennessee — 82/100FranklinTennessee — 82/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Knoxville Utilities Board CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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