Kingsport
Kingsport, TN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
kingsport water dept
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID TN0000349
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Kingsport, TN is a small but growing city, with a population near 53,014 and the 14th-largest community in Tennessee. Like much of Tennessee, Kingsport draws its water primarily from Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and aquifers.
Kingsport's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Tennessee. Ample surface water; Memphis draws from a renowned deep sand aquifer it works to protect.
Kingsport sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences severe to extreme drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Tennessee state water profile and the related issues below.
Sullivan County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~53,014 (14th-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 Kingsport?
Kingsport's largest water system, KINGSPORT WATER DEPT, serves about 107,739 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 Kingsport get its water?
KINGSPORT WATER DEPT draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Tennessee's supply from Tennessee River, Cumberland River, aquifers.