Hardness
Soft
4.5 PPM · 0.3 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Knoxville, TN 37914
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Knox County.
No active health-based violation reported
- Primary matched system
- Knoxville Utilities Board - Kub
- Source water
- Surface water
- County
- Knox County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
6.0e-4 mg/L
4% of action level
Utility match
6 systems
Serves 254,671 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
4.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
4.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
0.3
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 4.5 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
1
Nearest site
22.5 mi
Observation range
Jan 11, 2016–Mar 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: LITTLE RIVER ABOVE TOWNSEND, TN (Stream).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 37914 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Knoxville median
5 PPM
About the same15 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.5–4.5 PPM
Tennessee median
50 PPM
45 PPM lower323 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.5–247 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass
Lead (PB90)
6.0e-4 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
Not available
No numerical 90th-percentile result
Numerical coverage
1 comparable result
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 6.0e-4
EPA limit 0.015
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 7
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | TN0000367 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | TN0000367 | Resolved | Apr 1, 2024through Jun 30, 2024 |
| TTHM | TN0000515 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | TN0000515 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Dec 31, 2023 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | TN0000515 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2021through Dec 31, 2021 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | TN0000371 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2021through Aug 9, 2021 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TN0000369 | Unaddressed | Sep 1, 2018 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Knoxville ZIP 37914 using 4.5 PPM nearby hardness and 1 reported measurement benchmarks.
No urgent match
Start with an independent water test
This profile does not trigger a treatment recommendation. Test at the tap before investing in equipment.
Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Knoxville
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Knoxville
Is tap water safe in Knoxville?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 4.5 PPM, or 0.3 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.