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City water profile

Bristol water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Bristol, Tennessee.

Median indexed hardness

184PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 183.5–183.5 PPM

State comparison
134 PPM above
State hardness rank
#6 of 222
Matched utilities
2
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Bristol has 2 published ZIP profiles across Sullivan County. The indexed median is 184 PPM, compared with 50 PPM across Tennessee.

Among the 222 Tennesseecities with an indexed median, Bristol ranks #6from highest to lowest. Across all 323 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 4.5to 247 PPM.

The 183.5–183.5 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard2 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
29.8 miles
Profiles with evidence
2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 2

Observation window: Aug 30, 2016 to Oct 18, 2023.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Bristol

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

37618

Very Hard

183.5 PPM

Nearest site
29.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

37620

Very Hard

183.5 PPM

Nearest site
26.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Bristol Dept Of Utilities

PWSID TN0000073

Surface water
System population served
37,648
Last reported
May 14, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Bristol-Bluff City U.d.

PWSID TN0000079

Surface water
System population served
6,268
Last reported
May 14, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Consumer Confidence RuleTN0000073Jul 1, 2022Resolved
Public NoticeTN0000079Jul 26, 2018Unaddressed
Public NoticeTN0000079Jul 6, 2018Unaddressed
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment RuleTN0000079Jul 1, 2017Unaddressed
Public NoticeTN0000079Mar 1, 2013Unaddressed

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Bristol

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 184 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.