Bartlett
Bartlett, TN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
bartlett water system
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID TN0000765
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 58,579 residents, Bartlett ranks as the 12th-largest city in Tennessee and a small but growing city. Water in Bartlett is sourced chiefly from Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and aquifers, the backbone of Tennessee's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. Ample surface water; Memphis draws from a renowned deep sand aquifer it works to protect.
Statewide, Tennessee recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Bartlett faces severe to extreme drought conditions.
The Tennessee state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Bartlett's water future.
Shelby County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~58,579 (12th-largest in Tennessee)
- Primary sources: Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and aquifers
- Drought: severe to extreme conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Tennessee in severe+ drought (Extreme (D3) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Bartlett?
Bartlett's largest water system, BARTLETT WATER SYSTEM, serves about 57,129 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Bartlett get its water?
BARTLETT WATER SYSTEM draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Tennessee's supply from Tennessee River, Cumberland River, aquifers.