Well Water Filter Systems

Well water by state

Well water testing in Tennessee

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Quick answer

About 698,000 people in Tennessee (11.0% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation runs the state’s private well guidance. The Tennessee Department of Health's Waterborne Disease Team (formerly the SafeWATCH Program) offers free water quality testing for eligible private wells and springs.

People on private wells
698,002
Share of residents
11.0%
Rank among states
19th
Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
2.4%

Where to get your well tested in Tennessee

Free or low-cost testing

The Tennessee Department of Health's Waterborne Disease Team (formerly the SafeWATCH Program) offers free water quality testing for eligible private wells and springs. (source)

Mail-in lab kits are another option when no local lab is convenient. See well water test kits for what home kits can and can’t tell you.

What to test for

Private wells by county

Estimated people relying on private wells in each Tennessee county in 2010, the share of residents that represents, and the modeled share of well users with arsenic above 10 µg/L. These are USGS model estimates (2010 population), not measurements of any well. Arsenic is hidden for counties with fewer than 500 well users.

CountyPeople on wellsShareArsenic >10 µg/L
Sevier County23,38926.0%3.0%
McMinn County19,05936.5%4.3%
Fayette County18,31147.7%3.9%
Monroe County17,71239.8%3.6%
Hawkins County15,33427.0%6.0%
Weakley County15,08643.1%2.8%
Bradley County14,89715.1%2.5%
Coffee County14,40727.3%1.8%
Cocke County14,09039.5%3.4%
Madison County13,98814.2%2.2%
Knox County13,5503.1%2.2%
Henry County13,05340.4%1.7%
Show all 95 counties
Hardeman County13,03447.8%2.2%
Carroll County13,02945.7%2.0%
Jefferson County12,94025.2%3.4%
Lawrence County12,56930.0%1.5%
Roane County12,42422.9%1.7%
Rutherford County12,3874.7%1.4%
Blount County12,32610.0%2.1%
Grainger County12,24454.0%2.5%
Rhea County12,23438.5%2.3%
Claiborne County11,40035.4%1.2%
Gibson County11,36322.9%2.7%
Greene County10,88315.8%3.3%
Washington County9,9438.1%1.5%
Dickson County9,73319.6%1.1%
Sumner County9,6176.0%2.2%
Williamson County9,1855.0%1.2%
Tipton County8,50613.9%3.9%
Wilson County8,5067.5%3.8%
Hamilton County8,3962.5%1.8%
Bledsoe County8,05262.5%2.3%
Chester County8,01946.8%3.0%
Union County8,01341.9%2.0%
Loudon County7,98516.4%1.7%
Henderson County7,74727.9%2.0%
Cumberland County7,73213.8%2.9%
Benton County7,60546.1%1.3%
Wayne County7,53944.3%1.0%
Marshall County7,38624.1%1.8%
Polk County7,17142.6%3.3%
Humphreys County7,07238.1%1.0%
Meigs County7,03259.8%2.0%
Sullivan County6,9884.5%2.5%
Haywood County6,82836.3%3.5%
Cannon County6,75348.9%2.9%
Bedford County6,70214.9%1.4%
Marion County6,52623.1%1.8%
Lincoln County6,30218.9%1.8%
Campbell County6,18615.2%1.0%
Giles County6,13520.8%3.3%
Franklin County6,10314.9%1.5%
Anderson County6,0938.1%2.6%
Morgan County6,00227.3%1.8%
Cheatham County5,96915.3%2.5%
Stewart County5,68942.7%1.0%
Fentress County5,54530.9%2.7%
Hamblen County5,3238.5%2.8%
Maury County5,1926.4%1.5%
Hardin County5,13419.7%2.5%
Hickman County5,13020.8%1.2%
Macon County5,07522.8%2.0%
Sequatchie County5,04335.7%2.4%
Overton County4,77521.6%1.6%
Scott County4,72221.2%1.0%
McNairy County4,70418.0%1.3%
Warren County4,68211.8%2.0%
Carter County4,0977.1%2.1%
Smith County3,81919.9%2.8%
Lewis County3,70530.5%1.0%
Johnson County3,64320.0%2.7%
Obion County3,59211.3%4.1%
DeKalb County3,47618.6%3.4%
Davidson County3,0820.5%2.4%
Perry County2,99537.8%1.6%
Robertson County2,9714.5%2.2%
Grundy County2,83220.7%2.8%
Shelby County2,8010.3%3.7%
Hancock County2,76140.5%2.0%
Decatur County2,70923.0%1.7%
White County2,5619.9%2.4%
Montgomery County2,4021.4%1.2%
Putnam County2,2253.1%2.0%
Jackson County2,09818.0%2.0%
Dyer County1,9735.1%2.9%
Crockett County1,81612.4%2.9%
Houston County1,63819.4%1.0%
Clay County1,63420.8%2.0%
Moore County1,55724.5%2.5%
Lauderdale County1,2904.6%3.8%
Unicoi County1,2256.7%2.2%
Trousdale County91411.6%2.0%
Pickett County59611.7%2.0%
Van Buren County56110.1%4.7%
Lake County4806.1%–

Counties with the highest modeled arsenic share: Hawkins County (6.0%), Van Buren County (4.7%), McMinn County (4.3%), Obion County (4.1%), Fayette County (3.9%).

After you get results

Enter your numbers in the test results tool to see what needs treating and in what order. The guide to reading a well water test explains units and limits.

Common questions

Does Tennessee offer free well water testing?

The Tennessee Department of Health's Waterborne Disease Team (formerly the SafeWATCH Program) offers free water quality testing for eligible private wells and springs.

Who oversees private wells in Tennessee?

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (Well Water) publishes guidance for private well owners. Private wells aren’t covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so testing and treatment are up to the owner.

How many people use private wells in Tennessee?

USGS estimates about 698,000 people, or 11.0% of the population in 2010. That ranks 19th of the states covered by the estimate.

What should I test my well for in Tennessee?

Test every year for total coliform bacteria and nitrate, plus pH, hardness, iron and manganese before buying equipment. Ask the state program or a certified lab about local concerns such as arsenic, uranium or PFAS.

Sources

  1. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation: Well Water
  2. Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation: well water testing
  3. Tennessee certified laboratories
  4. Tennessee free or low-cost testing
  5. USGS data release: domestic well locations and populations served, 2000 and 2010 (Johnson, Belitz and Lombard, 2019)
  6. CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking: private well water data (from USGS)