Why does water hardness vary across Tennessee?

Water hardness varies across Tennessee because utilities can use different groundwater wells, reservoirs, treatment plants, blends, and distribution zones. Private wells can also differ from nearby municipal water.

What city in Tennessee has the hardest water?

Springfield has the hardest water among higher-confidence Tennessee city pages at 234 PPM. Check the city page for local systems and ZIP codes before making treatment decisions.

Does this include municipal water, well water, or both?

The state report combines public water system records, utility reports, and USGS monitoring where available. Municipal treated-water records are preferred when present. Private well hardness can vary at the address level and should be confirmed with a local test.

How many water systems are in Tennessee?

Tennessee has 446 active community water systems serving 513 cities.

Water Hardness in Tennessee

Average: 144 PPMModerately Hard513 cities446 water systems

State report

Is Tennessee Water Hard or Soft?

Tennessee water is moderately hard on average at 144 PPM (8.4 GPG). Local readings can vary by utility, aquifer, treatment plant, and private well use.

State average

144 PPM

Moderately Hard

Local coverage

513 cities

446 water systems

Source profile

379 ZIPs

direct or USGS-backed

Tennessee has mixed source coverage across treated-water records, USGS monitoring, and estimated fallback values.

Methodology Data sources Search by ZIP code

State data profile

How to read the Tennessee results

State pages are screening and comparison hubs. They summarize ZIP, city, and water-system patterns so you can find the local page that best matches your home or utility.

Direct or USGS-backed ZIPs

379 of 602

63% use treated-water records or USGS monitoring.

Estimated ZIP values

223 ZIPs

37% use nearby, county, or state-level fallback values.

Dataset update

March 9, 2026

Source coverage and rollups are rebuilt from the public dataset.

Use the source coverage below to judge how much local confirmation a specific city or ZIP needs. The methodology page explains the source hierarchy, weighting, and limitations.

State Average

144 PPM

Moderately Hard

Coverage

513 cities

446 water systems in the state rollup.

Data Source Coverage

ZIP-level source mix for Tennessee; higher direct and USGS coverage means less reliance on regional estimates.

602 ZIPs covered

Verified treated water

Utility, CCR, or state treated-water records

34%

205 ZIPs

High-confidence USGS

Environmental monitoring matched to local systems

29%

174 ZIPs

Estimated

Nearby, county, or state-level fallback values

37%

223 ZIPs

In Tennessee, 34% of ZIPs use verified treated-water records, 29% use high-confidence USGS monitoring, and 37% use estimates that should be confirmed locally for treatment decisions.

What the Data Shows in Tennessee

Hard water is common but not universal in Tennessee: 31% of classified ZIPs are hard or very hard.

Tennessee uses a mixed data profile across treated-water records, USGS monitoring, and estimated fallback values.

Use the city table below to compare local results. For estimated locations or unusually high readings, confirm with your utility or a home hardness test before sizing treatment equipment.

ZIP Hardness Distribution

Soft27% (161)

Slightly Hard36% (217)

Moderately Hard6% (36)

Hard23% (139)

Very Hard8% (49)

Treatment Takeaway

Hardness treatment is less likely to be needed statewide, but local water systems can still differ from the state pattern. Test first if you see scale or spotting.

How to Use This Data

Use the source coverage above to decide how much local confirmation you need for a specific city or ZIP code.

Source-Backed Water Systems in Tennessee

Large systems with treated-water reports or USGS monitoring behind the state rollup.

Review source labels

Water system	Hardness	Source label	Population
Metro Water Services TN0000494 - Davidson County	100 PPM Slightly Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	778,153
Memphis Light, Gas, & Water TN0000450 - Shelby County	90 PPM Slightly Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	659,500
Knoxville Utilities Board - Kub TN0000366 - Knox County	50 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	254,671
Clarksville Water Department TN0000116 - Montgomery County	100 PPM Slightly Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	251,864
Consolidated U.D. Of Rutherford Co TN0000791 - Rutherford County	100 PPM Slightly Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	221,871
Tennessee American Water TN0000107 - Hamilton County	60 PPM Slightly Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	211,499
White House Utility District TN0000745 - Sumner County	100 PPM Slightly Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	130,411
First U.D. Of Knox County TN0000369 - Knox County	50 PPM Soft	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	115,531

Useful Tennessee City Pages

Shortcuts to city pages backed by more ZIP-code or water-system data.

Cities With More Local Data

Memphis

25 ZIPs · 4 systems

Slightly Hard (90 PPM)

Nashville

19 ZIPs · 3 systems

Slightly Hard (100 PPM)

Chattanooga

13 ZIPs · 8 systems

Slightly Hard (60 PPM)

Slightly Hard (100 PPM)

Maryville

3 ZIPs · 4 systems

Soft (10 PPM)

Prioritize cities with multiple ZIPs and systems, then use source badges on each city page to separate verified treated-water records from estimates.

Top 10 Hardest Water Cities

#	City	Hardness
1	Springfield	Hard (234 PPM)
2	Oak Ridge	Hard (220 PPM)
3	Ardmore	Hard (214 PPM)
4	Rogersville	Hard (211 PPM)
5	Sweetwater	Moderately Hard (170 PPM)
6	Lenoir City	Moderately Hard (149 PPM)
7	Kingston	Slightly Hard (109 PPM)
8	Harriman	Slightly Hard (105 PPM)
9	Westmoreland	Slightly Hard (103 PPM)
10	Adams	Slightly Hard (102 PPM)

Top 10 Softest Water Cities

#	City	Hardness
1	Elizabethton	Soft (3 PPM)
2	Gatlinburg	Soft (6 PPM)
3	Pigeon Forge	Soft (6 PPM)
4	Sevierville	Soft (6 PPM)
5	Maryville	Soft (10 PPM)
6	Bristol	Soft (19 PPM)
7	Trenton	Soft (22 PPM)
8	Johnson City	Soft (30 PPM)
9	Jonesborough	Soft (30 PPM)
10	Cleveland	Soft (50 PPM)

All Cities in Tennessee

City pages marked Estimated use fallback values and should be confirmed with local testing or utility data.

AdamsSlightly Hard AdamsvilleHard AftonModerately Hard AlamoSoft AlcoaSoft AlexandriaVery Hard AlgoodVery Hard AllardtVery Hard AllonsVery Hard AllredVery Hard AlpineVery Hard AltamontHard AndersonvilleHard AntiochSlightly Hard ApisonSlightly Hard ArdmoreHard ArlingtonSlightly Hard ArringtonSlightly Hard Ashland CityHard AthensVery Hard AtokaSoft AtwoodSoft AuburntownHard BaileytonModerately Hard BaneberrySoft BartlettSlightly Hard Bath SpringsSlightly Hard BaxterVery Hard Bean StationModerately Hard Beech BluffSlightly Hard BeechgroveSlightly Hard Beersheba SpringSlightly Hard BelfastHard Bell BuckleHard BellevueSlightly Hard BellsSoft BelvidereHard BentonVery Hard Bethel SpringsHard BethpageSlightly Hard Big RockSlightly Hard Big SandyHard BirchwoodSlightly Hard BlaineModerately Hard BloomingdaleSoft Bloomington SpriSlightly Hard BlountvilleSoft Bluff CitySoft BolivarSoft Bon AquaModerately Hard Bone CaveVery Hard BradfordSoft BradyvilleHard BrentwoodSlightly Hard BrightonSoft BristolSoft BrownsvilleSoft BrucetonSoft Brush CreekSlightly Hard BuchananSoft Buena VistaSlightly Hard Buffalo ValleyVery Hard Bulls GapHard Bumpus MillsSoft BurlisonSoft BurnsHard ButlerSoft BybeeSoft ByrdstownVery Hard CalhounVery Hard CamdenHard CaryvilleHard Castalian SpringSlightly Hard Cedar GroveSoft Cedar HillHard CelinaVery Hard CentervilleModerately Hard Chapel HillHard ChapmansboroHard CharlestonSoft CharlotteHard ChattanoogaSlightly Hard Chestnut MoundSlightly Hard ChristianaSlightly Hard ChuckeyModerately Hard Church HillHard ClairfieldHard ClarkrangeVery Hard ClarksvilleSlightly Hard ClevelandSoft CliftonHard ClintonHard CoalfieldSlightly Hard CoalmontSlightly Hard College GroveSlightly Hard ColliervilleSlightly Hard CollinwoodHard Colonial HeightsSoft ColumbiaHard ConasaugaSlightly Hard ConcordSoft Concord FarragutSoft CordovaSlightly Hard CornersvilleHard CorrytonSoft CosbySoft Cottage GroveSoft CottontownSlightly Hard CounceHard CovingtonSoft CowanHard Crab OrchardSoft CrawfordVery Hard Crockett MillsSoft Cross PlainsHard CrumpHard CulleokaHard Cumberland CityHard Cumberland FurnaHard Cumberland GapHard CunninghamSlightly Hard Cypress InnSlightly Hard DandridgeSoft DardenSlightly Hard DaytonSlightly Hard DecaturSlightly Hard DecaturvilleHard DecherdHard Deer LodgeSlightly Hard DefeatedVery Hard Del RioSoft DelanoSlightly Hard DenmarkSlightly Hard DevoniaHard DickelSlightly Hard DicksonHard Dixon SpringsVery Hard DoverHard DowelltownVery Hard DoyleVery Hard DresdenSoft DrummondsSoft Duck RiverModerately Hard DucktownSlightly Hard DuffHard DukedomSoft DunlapSlightly Hard DyerSoft DyersburgSoft EadsSlightly Hard EaganHard EaglevilleSlightly Hard East RidgeSlightly Hard EidsonHard ElginSlightly Hard ElizabethtonSoft ElmwoodSlightly Hard EloraHard EnglewoodVery Hard EnvilleHard ErinHard ErwinSlightly Hard Estill SpringsHard EthridgeHard EtowahVery Hard EvaHard EvensvilleSlightly Hard Fairfield GladeSoft FairviewSlightly Hard Fall BranchSoft FarnerSlightly Hard FayettevilleHard FingerHard FinleySoft Five PointsHard Flag PondSlightly Hard FlatwoodsHard FlintvilleHard FrankewingHard FranklinSlightly Hard FriendshipSoft FriendsvilleSlightly Hard GadsdenSlightly Hard GainesboroVery Hard GallatinSlightly Hard GallawaySoft GassawayVery Hard GatesSoft GatlinburgSoft GeorgetownSoft GermantownSlightly Hard GleasonSoft GoodlettsvilleSlightly Hard GoodspringHard GordonsvilleVery Hard Grand JunctionSoft GrandviewSlightly Hard GranvilleSlightly Hard GraySoft GraysvilleSlightly Hard GreenbackModerately Hard GreenbrierHard GreenfieldSoft GrimsleyVery Hard Gruetli LaagerSlightly Hard GuildSlightly Hard GuysHard HallsSoft HampshireHard HamptonSoft HarrimanSlightly Hard HarrisonSlightly Hard HarrogateHard HartfordSoft HartsvilleHard HeiskellHard HelenwoodSlightly Hard HendersonSoft HendersonvilleSlightly Hard HenrySoft HermitageSlightly Hard HickmanSlightly Hard Hickory HillSlightly Hard Hickory ValleySlightly Hard HilhamVery Hard HillsboroSlightly Hard Hiwassee CollegeModerately Hard HixsonSlightly Hard HolladayHard Hollow RockSoft HornbeakSoft HornsbySoft HumboldtSoft HuntingdonSoft HuntlandHard HuntsvilleSlightly Hard HuronSlightly Hard Hurricane MillsSlightly Hard Indian MoundSlightly Hard Iron CityHard Jacks CreekHard JacksboroHard JacksonSlightly Hard JamestownVery Hard Jefferson CitySlightly Hard JellicoHard JoeltonSlightly Hard Johnson CitySoft JonesboroughSoft KarnsSoft KelsoHard KentonSoft KimballSlightly Hard Kimberlin HeightSoft KimminsSoft KingsportSoft KingstonSlightly Hard Kingston SpringsHard KnoxvilleSoft KodakSoft Kyles FordSoft La GrangeSoft La VergneSlightly Hard LafayetteVery Hard Lake CityHard LancasterSlightly Hard LancingSlightly Hard LascassasSlightly Hard Laurel BloomerySoft LaviniaSoft LawrenceburgHard LebanonHard Lenoir CityModerately Hard LenoxSoft LeomaHard LewisburgHard LexingtonSlightly Hard LivingstonVery Hard LobelvilleHard Lookout MountainSlightly Hard LorettoHard LoudonModerately Hard LouisvilleSoft Lupton CitySlightly Hard LurayHard LuttrellSoft LuttsHard LynchburgHard Lynn GardenSoft LynnvilleHard MadisonSlightly Hard ManchesterSlightly Hard MansfieldSoft MartinSoft MaryvilleSoft MascotSoft MasonSoft Maury CitySoft MaynardvilleSlightly Hard Mc DonaldSoft Mc EwenHard Mc KenzieSoft Mc LemoresvilleSoft MedinaSoft MedonSlightly Hard MelroseSlightly Hard MemphisSlightly Hard MercerSlightly Hard MichieHard MiddletonSoft MidwayModerately Hard MilanSoft MilledgevilleHard MillingtonSlightly Hard MiltonSlightly Hard Minor HillHard MohawkModerately Hard MonroeVery Hard MonteagleHard MontereyVery Hard MooresburgHard MorleyHard Morris ChapelHard MorrisonVery Hard MorristownModerately Hard MoscowSoft MosheimModerately Hard MossVery Hard Mount CarmelHard Mount JulietHard Mount PleasantHard Mountain CitySoft MulberryHard MunfordSoft MurfreesboroSlightly Hard NashvilleSlightly Hard New JohnsonvilleHard New MarketSoft New TazewellHard NewbernSoft NewcombHard NewportSoft NiotaVery Hard NolensvilleSlightly Hard NormandySlightly Hard NorrisHard NunnellyModerately Hard Oak RidgeHard OakdaleSlightly Hard OakfieldSlightly Hard OaklandSoft ObionSoft OcoeeSlightly Hard Old HickorySlightly Hard OldfortSlightly Hard OlivehillHard Oliver SpringsSlightly Hard OneidaSlightly Hard OnlyModerately Hard OoltewahSlightly Hard OrlindaHard Pall MallSlightly Hard PalmerSlightly Hard PalmersvilleSoft PalmyraSlightly Hard ParisSoft ParrottsvilleSoft ParsonsHard PegramHard PelhamSlightly Hard PetersburgHard PetrosSlightly Hard PhiladelphiaModerately Hard Pigeon ForgeSoft PikevilleSoft Piney FlatsSoft PinsonSlightly Hard PioneerSlightly Hard PlazaVery Hard Pleasant ShadeSlightly Hard Pleasant ViewHard PocahontasSlightly Hard PortlandSlightly Hard PostelleSlightly Hard Powder SpringsModerately Hard PowellSoft Primm SpringsSlightly Hard ProspectHard PulaskiHard PuryearSoft QuebeckVery Hard RamerHard RavenscroftVery Hard ReadyvilleHard ReaganSlightly Hard Red BankSlightly Hard Red Boiling SpriVery Hard RelianceSlightly Hard RicevilleVery Hard RickmanVery Hard RiddletonVery Hard RidgelyModerately Hard RivesSoft Roan MountainSoft RobbinsSlightly Hard RockfordSoft RockvaleSlightly Hard RockwoodSlightly Hard RogersvilleHard RossvilleSoft RoyalHard RussellvilleModerately Hard RutherfordSoft RutledgeModerately Hard Saint JosephHard Sale CreekSlightly Hard SaltilloModerately Hard Santa FeHard SardisSlightly Hard SaulsburySoft SavannahHard Scotts HillModerately Hard SelmerHard SequatchieSlightly Hard SeviervilleSoft SewaneeHard SeymourSoft Shady ValleySoft SharonSoft Sharps ChapelSoft SherwoodHard ShilohHard Signal MountainSlightly Hard Silver PointVery Hard SmithvilleVery Hard SmyrnaSlightly Hard SneedvilleVery Hard Soddy DaisySlightly Hard SomervilleSoft South FultonSoft South PittsburgSlightly Hard SouthsideSlightly Hard SpeedwellHard SpencerSoft Spring CitySlightly Hard Spring HillHard SpringfieldHard SpringvilleSoft StantonSoft StantonvilleHard StewartSlightly Hard Strawberry PlainSoft Sugar TreeHard SummertownHard SunbrightSlightly Hard SurgoinsvilleHard SweetwaterModerately Hard TaftHard TalbottModerately Hard TallasseeSoft TazewellHard TelfordSoft Tellico PlainsModerately Hard Ten MileSlightly Hard Tennessee RidgeSoft Thompsons StatioSlightly Hard Thorn HillModerately Hard TooneSoft TownsendSoft Tracy CitySlightly Hard TradeSoft TrentonSoft TrezevantSoft TrimbleSoft TroySoft TurtletownSlightly Hard UnicoiSlightly Hard Union CitySoft UnionvilleHard VanleerHard ViolaVery Hard VonoreModerately Hard WallandSoft WallingVery Hard WartburgSlightly Hard WartraceHard WashburnModerately Hard Washington ColleSoft WataugaSoft WatertownHard WaverlyHard WaynesboroHard WestmorelandSlightly Hard WestpointHard WestportSlightly Hard White BluffHard White HouseSlightly Hard Whites CreekSlightly Hard WhitesburgModerately Hard WhitesideSlightly Hard WhitevilleSoft WhitleyvilleSlightly Hard WhitwellSlightly Hard WilderVery Hard WildersvilleSlightly Hard WilliamsportHard WillistonSoft WinchesterHard WinfieldSlightly Hard WoodburyHard WoodlawnSlightly Hard WrigleyModerately Hard YumaSlightly Hard