What was found in Memphis's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 846.4999999999998 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 200 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 137.29999999999987 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 76.47999999999993 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 112.14999999999993 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 67.06999999999994 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 108.18000000000005 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 52.43499999999998 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 74.20000000000002 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 49.54 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 30.235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 43.080000000000005 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 21.87999999999999 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 31.280000000000005 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.339999999999996 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.820000000000004 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 8.825 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.419999999999993 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4.033999999999999 µg/L 27% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 15.18 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.226 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.8154999999999992 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.363000000000001 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.665 µg/L 2.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.3649999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.631 µg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.08 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.7110 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.6900 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.5700 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0120 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2024 | 1/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 3,360 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0025 mg/L — MEMPHIS PWS · 1,822 people · 2025 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Memphis
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SCOTLAND COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 | 3,360 |
| MEMPHIS PWS | 1,822 |
Frequently asked questions about Memphis tap water
Is Memphis tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Memphis. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Memphis?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Memphis, Missouri to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Memphis's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Memphis include Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.