Public Water System

CLIFTON WATER DEPT

PWSID TN0000119 · Tennessee · 4,110 people served

Failing

CLIFTON WATER DEPT is an EPA-regulated public water system in Tennessee (PWSID TN0000119). It serves an estimated 4,110 residents — a small town of customers — across 1 community across 1 ZIP code.

Over the past five years, CLIFTON WATER DEPT has recorded 53 EPA health-based violations. The grade of F summarizes this compliance pattern. Specific contaminants, dates, and rule citations are listed in the violation history below.

Service Area

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Centered on the averaged ZIP-code centroid of 1 ZIP served.

Population

4,110

Cities

ZIPs

Violations

EPA Health-Based Violations

Health-based Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) violations on file for CLIFTON WATER DEPT over the past five years of EPA SDWIS reporting.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)disinfectant

EPA Code 2950 · Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance

violations

EPA Limit

0.08 mg/L

Last Reading

.0826 MG/L

First Reported

Oct 2022

Most Recent

Oct 2024

What this violation means

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter — leaves, soil, algae — in source water. They are among the most commonly reported violations because utilities pulling from surface water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs) struggle to balance disinfection with byproduct formation. Long-term exposure has been linked to bladder cancer and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Recommended precautions

→Activated carbon filters (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) effectively reduce TTHMs.
→Letting water sit uncovered allows TTHMs to off-gas — leave a pitcher in the fridge for several hours.
→Shower with the bathroom fan on; TTHMs can volatilize into the air during hot showers.
→Boiling reduces TTHMs through volatilization, but only after extended boiling.

Read the complete guide to Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)disinfectant

EPA Code 2456 · Maximum Contaminant Level Exceedance

violations

EPA Limit

0.06 mg/L

Last Reading

.06275 MG/L

First Reported

Apr 2024

Most Recent

Apr 2024

What this violation means

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) are the second major group of disinfection byproducts after TTHMs. They form by the same mechanism — chlorine reacting with organic matter — and pose similar long-term cancer risks. Utilities are required to test quarterly at distribution-system locations to track HAA5 levels.

Recommended precautions

→Activated carbon filtration removes most HAA5.
→Reverse osmosis is highly effective.
→Unlike TTHMs, HAA5 do not significantly off-gas. Use treatment rather than aeration.
→Long-term ingestion is the primary concern, not short-term skin contact.

Read the complete guide to Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)

E. Colimicrobial

EPA Code 0300 · Treatment Technique Violation

violations

EPA Limit

0 per 100 mL presence/absence

Last Reading

—

First Reported

Feb 2021

Most Recent

May 2021

What this violation means

E. coli detection is an EPA Tier 1 acute violation, requiring same-day public notification. It confirms that fecal matter has entered the drinking water supply, posing immediate health risks — particularly to children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Recommended precautions

→Do not drink the water until the utility has lifted the advisory.
→Boil water for at least one minute (three minutes at elevations above 6,500 ft).
→Disinfect dishes and surfaces that touched contaminated water.
→Seek medical attention if you develop bloody diarrhea or persistent vomiting.

Read the complete guide to E. Coli

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Health-based violations only. Older violations may have been resolved; check your utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report for current status.

Cities Served by CLIFTON WATER DEPT

CLIFTON

ZIP Codes Served

38425

About this system

EPA records this system as PWSID TN0000119. Data reflects the most recent EPA SDWIS publication as of 2026-05-18. Public Water System Identifiers (PWSIDs) are assigned by the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act program to track every regulated water utility in the United States. The first two letters typically indicate the state primacy agency. For real-time water quality information, contact CLIFTON WATER DEPT directly or review their annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).