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States → Tennessee

Community Water System · PWS TN0000517

Bedford County U.d.

Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 22,908 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

22,908
People served
190
EPA violations
114
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 190 drinking-water violations at Bedford County U.d., 60% of them health-based - above the Tennessee per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

190
Total EPA violations on record
60%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
22,908
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Bedford County U.d.

Bedford County U.d. is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 22,908 residents in Shelbyville, Tennessee (Bedford County) through 8,270 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 190 total violations for this system , of which 114 (60%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 63 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 61 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 8.2 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

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%).

Bedford County U.d.'s 190 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.

PFAS Detected

5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
22,908
Total Violations
190
Health-Based Violations
114
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
8,270
County
Bedford
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
64
Monitoring Violations
63
Treatment Tech Violations
38

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 61 2018
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 34 2023
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 28 2007
Atrazine MR 13 2016
Chlorine dioxide MRDL 12 2023
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 9 2022
Chlorine MR 6 2006
TTHM MR 5 2021
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 2021
Nitrate MR 4 1993
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 2006
Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 1992
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 2002
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 1991

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/30/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 8/30/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/30/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/30/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/30/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/30/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/30/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/30/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/30/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/30/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/30/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/30/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/30/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/30/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/30/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/30/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/30/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/30/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/12/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/12/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/12/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/12/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/12/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 Bedford County U.d..

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 TN0000517 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 Bedford County U.d. 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
2023 Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 34 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 0800
2023 Chlorine dioxide MRDL 12 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 1008
2022 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 9 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 7000
2021 TTHM MR 5 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 2950
2021 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 2456
2018 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 61 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 2456
2016 Atrazine MR 13 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 2050
2007 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 28 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 0300
2006 Chlorine MR 6 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 0999
2006 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 4 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 0200
2002 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 5000
1993 Nitrate MR 4 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 1040
1992 Coliform (TCR) MCL 3 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 3100
1991 Coliform (TCR) MR 1 SDWIS / TN0000517 / 3100

How Bedford County U.d. Compares

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

Metric Bedford County U.d. Tennessee avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 190 56.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 114 12.4 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 33.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 22,908 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 Bedford County U.d. water safe to drink? ▼
Bedford County U.d. (PWS ID: TN0000517) has 190 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 22,908 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Bedford County U.d. serve? ▼
Bedford County U.d. serves 22,908 people in Shelbyville, Tennessee. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 8,270 service connections.
What type of violations does Bedford County U.d. have? ▼
Bedford County U.d. has 190 total violations: 114 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 63 monitoring/reporting violations, and 38 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Bedford County U.d. water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Bedford County U.d.'s water supply: PFBS, PFOS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Bedford County U.d. use? ▼
Bedford County U.d. 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.