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Community Water System · PWS TN0000576

Riceville Utility District

Riceville, Tennessee 37370 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 3,843 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

3,843
People served
59
EPA violations
32
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 59 drinking-water violations at Riceville Utility District, 54% of them health-based - above the Tennessee per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

59
Total EPA violations on record
54%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
3,843
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Riceville Utility District

Riceville Utility District is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 3,843 residents in Riceville, Tennessee (McMinn County) through 1,556 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 59 total violations for this system , of which 32 (54%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 20 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2017.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 24 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 6.5 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%).

Riceville Utility District's 59 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

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

Population Served
3,843
Total Violations
59
Health-Based Violations
32
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,556
County
McMinn
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
32
Monitoring Violations
20
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 24 2012
Coliform (TCR) MCL 8 2014
Chlorine MR 8 2017
Coliform (TCR) MR 7 2014
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 2017
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 1980

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 5 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFUnA 8/23/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/23/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/23/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/23/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/23/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/23/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 8/23/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/23/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/23/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/23/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/23/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 8/23/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 8/23/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 8/23/2023 <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 Riceville Utility District.

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 TN0000576 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 Riceville Utility District 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
2017 Chlorine MR 8 SDWIS / TN0000576 / 0999
2017 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 SDWIS / TN0000576 / 8000
2014 Coliform (TCR) MCL 8 SDWIS / TN0000576 / 3100
2014 Coliform (TCR) MR 7 SDWIS / TN0000576 / 3100
2012 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MCL 24 SDWIS / TN0000576 / 2456
1980 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 SDWIS / TN0000576 / 4000

How Riceville Utility District Compares

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

Metric Riceville Utility District Tennessee avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 59 56.8 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 32 12.4 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 33.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 3,843 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 Riceville Utility District water safe to drink? ▼
Riceville Utility District (PWS ID: TN0000576) has 59 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 3,843 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Riceville Utility District serve? ▼
Riceville Utility District serves 3,843 people in Riceville, Tennessee. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 1,556 service connections.
What type of violations does Riceville Utility District have? ▼
Riceville Utility District has 59 total violations: 32 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 20 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Riceville Utility District water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Riceville Utility District's water supply: PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Riceville Utility District use? ▼
Riceville Utility District 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.