States ›Tennessee ›Wayne County ›Clifton

Clifton, TN Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Clifton, TN — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Clifton's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Clifton Water Dept PWSID: TN0000119 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit

Lead is 1.00 ppb, 7% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 3.56 times the limit.

D

Clifton earns a D for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 1.00 ppb — 7% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
21 violations since 2015, 14 health-based
No violations currently open
Clifton's lead level vs. all Tennessee community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 1.00 ppb — 7% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 80% of Tennessee utilities
Population Served
2651
~757 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
21 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
7% of EPA action level
1.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 1.00 ppb, 7% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.0826 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.09633 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.06275 MG/L 0.060 mg/L 2024 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.09525 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.08663 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.08848 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.0902 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2023 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.08378 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Nitrate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2021 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2021 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2021 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2019 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2019 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2017 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2017 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MONITORING FAILURE — — 2017 Resolved
Coliform (TCR) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 5% of samples 2015 Resolved
Chlorine MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2015 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2015 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2015 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

21 violations are on record since 2015, of which 14 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Clifton Water Dept
PWSID TN0000119
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 2,651
Service connections 757
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Clifton tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 1.00 ppb, 7% of the action level.
Does Clifton water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 3.56 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Clifton? ▼
Clifton Water Dept (PWSID TN0000119). Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-06-03. Inspectors recorded 1 significant deficiency.

What Should Clifton Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in Tennessee

Waynesboro, Tn Tap Water Quality 2026 Wayne Collinwood, Tn Tap Water Quality 2026 Wayne