We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Tennessee to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Ft. Campbell, Tennessee
Ft. Campbell has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Ft. Campbell water report →Church Hill, Tennessee
Church Hill has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Church Hill water report →Corryton, Tennessee
Corryton has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Corryton water report →Lavergne, Tennessee
Lavergne has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lavergne water report →Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Morristown water report →Talbott, Tennessee
Talbott has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Talbott water report →Bean Station, Tennessee
Bean Station has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bean Station water report →Gladeville, Tennessee
Gladeville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Gladeville water report →Portland, Tennessee
Portland has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Portland water report →Smyrna, Tennessee
Smyrna has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Smyrna water report →Lewisburg, Tennessee
Lewisburg has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lewisburg water report →Shelbyville, Tennessee
Shelbyville has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Shelbyville water report →Dayton, Tennessee
Dayton has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Dayton water report →Russellville, Tennessee
Russellville has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Russellville water report →Loudon, Tennessee
Loudon has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Loudon water report →Lenoir City, Tennessee
Lenoir City has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lenoir City water report →Lawrenceburg, Tennessee
Lawrenceburg has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lawrenceburg water report →Cowan, Tennessee
Cowan has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Cowan water report →Springfield, Tennessee
Springfield has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Springfield water report →Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Sevierville water report →Dandridge, Tennessee
Dandridge has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Dandridge water report →Pleasant View, Tennessee
Pleasant View has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Pleasant View water report →Mohawk, Tennessee
Mohawk has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mohawk water report →Greenbrier, Tennessee
Greenbrier has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 18 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Greenbrier water report →Kingston, Tennessee
Kingston has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 17 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Kingston water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 313 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 5 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 308 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ft. Campbell | TN | 25 | 15 | 3 | 43,270 |
| 2 | Church Hill | TN | 23 | 14 | 0 | 20,294 |
| 3 | Corryton | TN | 21 | 14 | 0 | 25,558 |
| 4 | Lavergne | TN | 22 | 13 | 0 | 38,243 |
| 5 | Morristown | TN | 20 | 13 | 0 | 38,257 |
| 6 | Talbott | TN | 20 | 13 | 0 | 18,368 |
| 7 | Bean Station | TN | 20 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Gladeville | TN | 19 | 13 | 0 | 19,813 |
| 9 | Portland | TN | 18 | 13 | 0 | 23,509 |
| 10 | Smyrna | TN | 25 | 12 | 0 | 57,466 |
| 11 | Lewisburg | TN | 24 | 12 | 0 | 22,273 |
| 12 | Shelbyville | TN | 23 | 12 | 2 | 34,772 |
| 13 | Dayton | TN | 21 | 12 | 0 | 23,660 |
| 14 | Russellville | TN | 21 | 12 | 0 | 20,039 |
| 15 | Loudon | TN | 21 | 12 | 0 | 15,102 |
| 16 | Lenoir City | TN | 20 | 12 | 0 | 33,675 |
| 17 | Lawrenceburg | TN | 19 | 12 | 0 | 21,603 |
| 18 | Cowan | TN | 19 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Springfield | TN | 18 | 12 | 0 | 39,629 |
| 20 | Sevierville | TN | 18 | 12 | 0 | 36,542 |
| 21 | Dandridge | TN | 18 | 12 | 0 | 25,320 |
| 22 | Pleasant View | TN | 18 | 12 | 0 | 18,854 |
| 23 | Mohawk | TN | 18 | 12 | 0 | 9,280 |
| 24 | Greenbrier | TN | 18 | 12 | 0 | 8,555 |
| 25 | Kingston | TN | 17 | 12 | 0 | 14,942 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Tennessee?
Based on 2026 data, Ft. Campbell, TN has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
