Knoxville
Knoxville, TN water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
knoxville utilities board - kub
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID TN0000366
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Knoxville, TN is a mid-sized city, with a population near 185,291 and the 4th-largest community in Tennessee. Like much of Tennessee, Knoxville draws its water primarily from Tennessee River, Cumberland River, and aquifers.
Knoxville'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.
Knoxville 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.
Knox County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~185,291 (4th-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 Knoxville?
Knoxville's largest water system, KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD - KUB, serves about 254,671 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0.6 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Knoxville get its water?
KNOXVILLE UTILITIES BOARD - KUB draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Tennessee's supply from Tennessee River, Cumberland River, aquifers.