Pentair Pelican Offers In-Homes Services for Tennessee

Water sources in Tennessee, including the Tennessee River and the Cumberland River, are rated as “highly susceptible to potential contamination,” according to a consumer confidence report. Groundwater can be contaminated by environmental pollutants, industrial waste, and agricultural runoff. Multiple environmental groups have sued the Tennessee Valley Authority in an attempt to force the organization to clean its coal ash pits, which leech into the groundwater and pollute nearby rivers.

Environmental Working Group’s new Tap Water Database found five contaminants above recommended health guidelines in Nashville’s tap water, including nitrate, chromium-6, and total trihalomethanes (TTHMs). In the Memphis area, the EWG detected levels of radiological contaminants like radium and THMs that could increase a resident’s risk of developing cancer.

Recent reports indicate that gaps in the underground sediment layer that protects the public groundwater supply underneath vast swaths of the state could leave the water susceptible to arsenic contamination from closed coal plants. Drinking arsenic when it infiltrates public drinking water supplies can cause vomiting, stomach pain, numbness, skin discoloration, and it can increase your risk for developing bladder, lung, kidney, and liver cancers.

In 2016, Tennessee suffered a prolonged drought that pushed many local utilities to low reserves of freshwater. This incident led to many changes to the state’s formal drought plans. During times of extreme drought, mandatory watering restrictions will be implemented across the state. Details on restrictions can be found at the drought page of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.