Safe drinking water is a necessity of life, and most of us are concerned about the safety of the water we drink. According to the 1990 U.S. Census data, 91 percent of Tennessee households get their water from public water systems. Approximately half of Tennesseans drink water taken from wells or springs, while the other half drink treated water taken from surface lakes or streams. With its plentiful water resources, Tennessee rarely faces problems with water shortages.

"Results of recent national and regional reviews of state drinking water programs clearly show the Tennessee Drinking Water Program as among the best run in the nation, and the strongest in Region IV."
Robert F. McGhee,
Acting Director, Water Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region IV

Is my water safe to drink?

Tennessee has one of the most effective drinking water programs in the nation and was the second state in the nation to receive full federal approval of its drinking water program. Through this program, the drinking water produced by the state's 1,300 public water systems is tested and regulated. State law also mandates that the source of raw water and the type of treatment employed by any public water system be approved before water can be served to the public.

Generally, water taken from underground supplies is of excellent quality and needs only minimal treatment to meet drinking water standards. Public water systems that use ground water are required to operate a pollution prevention program that greatly reduces the potential for chemical con-tamination of well water.

Surface water is treated to remove particles,

bacteria that resist disinfection and any chemical contaminants present. In other states, 24 million people served by public water systems are provided unfiltered surface water to drink; however, Tennessee rules require all surface water to be filtered before it is served to customers.

Tennessee water plant operators must have special training and pass a written certification test to acquire an operator's license. Tennesseans also benefit from the added protection of operation and maintenance requirements, such as minimum pressure standards at the customer's meter and restrictions on the chemical additives that may be used in treating or conveying water.

While problems with drinking water in Tennessee are relatively infrequent, both state and federal regulations require that the public and customers be notified if problems occur or if a system fails to conduct any required water quality tests. New customers must also be advised of any recent problems when connecting to a system.

"Should I purchase bottled water instead of using the public water system?"

Under current standards, public water supplies are subject to much stricter testing and treatment requirements than are bottled water supplies. There are two main reasons to purchase bottled water in Tennessee: if you have been notified that a public water system fails to meet standards, or if you simply prefer the taste of bottled water.