Community Water System · PWS TN0000122
Big Creek Utility District
Altamont, Tennessee 37301 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 9,211 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 9,211
- People served
- 52
- EPA violations
- 16
- Health-based
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 52 drinking-water violations at Big Creek Utility District, 31% of them health-based - below the Tennessee per-system average.
- 52
- Total EPA violations on record
- 31%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 9,211
- People served by this system
- 0
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Big Creek Utility District
Big Creek Utility District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 9,211 residents in Altamont, Tennessee (Grundy County) through 3,450 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 52 total violations for this system , of which 16 (31%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 34 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2011.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 7 violations (TT, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.
Across Tennessee, EPA tracks 762 public water systems serving 7,934,203 people, with 43,318 cumulative violations and 9,414 health-based violations on record. About 94% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 56.8 violations. Statewide, 93 of 277 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (33.6%).
Big Creek Utility District's 52 violations sit below the Tennessee average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 3,450
- County
- Grundy
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 5
- Monitoring Violations
- 34
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 11
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 7 | 2008 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 5 | 2000 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 4 | 1993 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 4 | 2011 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 2 | 1998 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Trichloroethylene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| CHLOROBENZENE | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| DICHLOROMETHANE | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Styrene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Selenium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Fluoride | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Arsenic | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Mercury | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Barium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Chromium | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| Benzene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Nitrate | MR | 1 | 1980 |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Vinyl chloride | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Ethylbenzene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | MR | 1 | 1989 |
| Toluene | MR | 1 | 1989 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHpS | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 7/21/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 7/21/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 7/21/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 7/21/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 7/21/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 7/21/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 7/21/2025 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 7/21/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 7/21/2025 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 7/21/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 7/21/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 7/21/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 7/21/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 7/21/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 7/21/2025 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 7/21/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 7/21/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 7/21/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 4/22/2025 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/22/2025 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/22/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 4/22/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 4/22/2025 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 4/22/2025 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 4/22/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/22/2025 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/22/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/22/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/22/2025 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 4/22/2025 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 4/22/2025 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Big Creek Utility District.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID TN0000122 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Tennessee Drinking Water Authority
Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Big Creek Utility District under EPA-delegated authority.
Open TN regulator portalSource: Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Drinking Water
Violation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 4 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 0300 |
| 2008 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 7 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 0200 |
| 2000 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 5 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 3100 |
| 1998 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 2 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 3100 |
| 1993 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | MR | 4 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 0200 |
| 1989 | Carbon tetrachloride | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2982 |
| 1989 | p-Dichlorobenzene | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2969 |
| 1989 | 1,2-Dichloroethane | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2980 |
| 1989 | Trichloroethylene | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2984 |
| 1989 | CHLOROBENZENE | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2989 |
| 1989 | trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2979 |
| 1989 | DICHLOROMETHANE | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2964 |
| 1989 | Styrene | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2996 |
| 1989 | 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2985 |
| 1989 | 1,1-Dichloroethylene | MR | 1 | SDWIS / TN0000122 / 2977 |
How Big Creek Utility District Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Big Creek Utility District | Tennessee avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 52 | 56.8 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 16 | 12.4 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 33.6% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 9,211 | 10,412 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 762 regulated public water systems in Tennessee.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Creek Utility District water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Big Creek Utility District serve? ▼
What type of violations does Big Creek Utility District have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Big Creek Utility District water? ▼
What water source does Big Creek Utility District use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.