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Community Water System · PWS TN0000174

Dayton Water Dept

Dayton, Tennessee 37321 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 25,054 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

25,054
People served
148
EPA violations
40
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 148 drinking-water violations at Dayton Water Dept, 27% of them health-based - above the Tennessee per-system average.

148
Total EPA violations on record
27%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
25,054
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Dayton Water Dept

Dayton Water Dept is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 25,054 residents in Dayton, Tennessee (Rhea County) through 9,636 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 148 total violations for this system , of which 40 (27%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 93 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 20 violations (MR). 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%).

Dayton Water Dept's 148 violations sit above 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.

Population Served
25,054
Total Violations
148
Health-Based Violations
40
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
9,636
County
Rhea
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
32
Monitoring Violations
93
Treatment Tech Violations
8

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 20 2020
TTHM MR 19 2020
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 17 2024
TTHM MCL 12 2016
Coliform (TCR) MR 11 2005
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 9 2020
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 5 2003
Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 2021
Glyphosate MR 3 1995
OXAMYL MR 3 1995
Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 2000
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 3 2010
Chlorine MR 3 2005
Arsenic MR 2 2011
Barium MR 2 2011
Cadmium MR 2 2011
Chromium MR 2 2011
Mercury MR 2 2011
Nickel MR 2 2011
Antimony, Total MR 2 2011
Thallium, Total MR 2 2011
Selenium MR 2 2011
2,4-D MR 2 2014
Fluoride MR 2 2011
CYANIDE MR 2 2011
Picloram MR 2 2014
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2011
Atrazine MR 2 2014
Public Notice Other 1 2017

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 9/19/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 6/13/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/13/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/13/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 6/13/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/13/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/13/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/13/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/13/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/13/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 2/27/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 2/27/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 2/27/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 2/27/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 2/27/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 2/27/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 2/27/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 2/27/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 2/27/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 2/27/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 2/27/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 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 Dayton Water Dept.

Federal Source of Truth

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 TN0000174 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Tennessee Drinking Water Authority

Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation, Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Dayton Water Dept under EPA-delegated authority.

Open TN regulator portal

Source: 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
2024 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 17 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2456
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 4 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 5000
2020 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 20 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2456
2020 TTHM MR 19 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2950
2020 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 9 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 7000
2017 Public Notice Other 1 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 7500
2016 TTHM MCL 12 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2950
2014 2,4-D MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2105
2014 Picloram MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2040
2014 Atrazine MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 2050
2011 Arsenic MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 1005
2011 Barium MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 1010
2011 Cadmium MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 1015
2011 Chromium MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 1020
2011 Mercury MR 2 SDWIS / TN0000174 / 1035

How Dayton Water Dept Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Dayton Water Dept Tennessee avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 148 56.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 40 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 25,054 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 Dayton Water Dept water safe to drink? ▼
Dayton Water Dept (PWS ID: TN0000174) has 148 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 25,054 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Dayton Water Dept serve? ▼
Dayton Water Dept serves 25,054 people in Dayton, Tennessee. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 9,636 service connections.
What type of violations does Dayton Water Dept have? ▼
Dayton Water Dept has 148 total violations: 40 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 93 monitoring/reporting violations, and 8 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Dayton Water Dept water? ▼
No. Dayton Water Dept was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Dayton Water Dept use? ▼
Dayton Water Dept uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

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.