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Community Water System · PWS TN0000546

First U.d. of Hardin County

Counce, Tennessee 38326 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 7,388 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

7,388
People served
73
EPA violations
34
Health-based
8 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 73 drinking-water violations at First U.d. of Hardin County, 47% of them health-based - above the Tennessee per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 8 PFAS compounds.

73
Total EPA violations on record
47%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
7,388
People served by this system
8
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: First U.d. of Hardin County

First U.d. of Hardin County is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 7,388 residents in Counce, Tennessee (Hardin County) through 2,967 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 73 total violations for this system , of which 34 (47%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 28 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 15 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 8 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 25.9 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%).

First U.d. of Hardin County's 73 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

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

Population Served
7,388
Total Violations
73
Health-Based Violations
34
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,967
County
Hardin
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
32
Monitoring Violations
28
Treatment Tech Violations
2

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 15 2025
Coliform (TCR) MCL 13 2012
CARBON, TOTAL MR 9 2018
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 2021
Chlorine MR 6 2009
Coliform (TCR) MR 6 2009
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 4 2005
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 2007
Atrazine MR 3 2000
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Other 2 2010
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 2000
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 2021

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 22 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 9/26/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/26/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/26/2023 9.80 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/26/2023 4.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFPeA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/26/2023 8.50 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFOS 9/26/2023 16.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 9/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/26/2023 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/20/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 6/20/2023 9.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 6/20/2023 3.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/20/2023 25.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFOA 6/20/2023 17.30 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/20/2023 5.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 6/20/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 6/20/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/20/2023 4.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
HFPO-DA 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/20/2023 3.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 6/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 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 First U.d. of Hardin County.

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 TN0000546 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 First U.d. of Hardin County 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
2025 TTHM MCL 15 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 2950
2021 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 7 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 7000
2021 Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 5000
2018 CARBON, TOTAL MR 9 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 2920
2012 Coliform (TCR) MCL 13 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 3100
2010 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Other 2 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 0300
2009 Chlorine MR 6 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 0999
2009 Coliform (TCR) MR 6 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 3100
2007 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 3 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 0200
2005 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 4 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 2456
2000 Atrazine MR 3 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 2050
2000 Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 2 SDWIS / TN0000546 / 0200

How First U.d. of Hardin County Compares

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

Metric First U.d. of Hardin County Tennessee avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 73 56.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 34 12.4 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 8 compounds 33.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 7,388 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 First U.d. of Hardin County water safe to drink? ▼
First U.d. of Hardin County (PWS ID: TN0000546) has 73 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 8 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 7,388 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does First U.d. of Hardin County serve? ▼
First U.d. of Hardin County serves 7,388 people in Counce, Tennessee. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 2,967 service connections.
What type of violations does First U.d. of Hardin County have? ▼
First U.d. of Hardin County has 73 total violations: 34 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 28 monitoring/reporting violations, and 2 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in First U.d. of Hardin County water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 8 PFAS compounds in First U.d. of Hardin County's water supply: PFOA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFOS, PFBS, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does First U.d. of Hardin County use? ▼
First U.d. of Hardin County 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.