East Chattanooga
East Chattanooga, TN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
East Chattanooga is a mid-sized city and the 6th-largest in Tennessee, home to roughly 154,024 residents. East Chattanooga's drinking water comes largely from the same regional sources that serve Tennessee: Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and aquifers.
As elsewhere in Tennessee, the central challenge is aging infrastructure. Ample surface water; Memphis draws from a renowned deep sand aquifer it works to protect.
Tennessee reuses an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater and maintains minimal reuse programs; East Chattanooga tracks severe to extreme drought conditions on the U.S. Drought Monitor scale.
Explore the Tennessee profile for statewide context, or dig into the water issues shaping East Chattanooga below.
At a glance
- Population ~154,024 (6th-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 East Chattanooga?
East Chattanooga is served by community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Statewide, 23.2% of Tennessee's systems have a recent health-based violation. Check your provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report for local results.
Where does East Chattanooga get its water?
East Chattanooga draws from the same regional sources that serve Tennessee: Tennessee River, Cumberland River, aquifers.