Carter County, Tennessee — public water systems

How does Carter County compare with other Tennessee counties?

Carter County has the 17th-most active public water systems among the 323 counties listed for active Tennessee systems in EPA records; among the 152 with 3 or more systems, the median has 6. Its systems report 59,496 people served in total, the 30th-largest county figure in the state and 0.7% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 3,966 people, about 31% below the Tennessee average of 5,780. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Carter County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Carter County's active systems draw on groundwater (9, 60%), purchased surface water (4, 27%), groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 6.7%) and surface water (1, 6.7%). Overall, 67% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 33% on surface water, compared with 80% and 20% across Tennessee. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Elizabethton Water Dept, draws primarily on purchased surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Carter County?

Carter County's active systems break down as 9 community systems (60%) and 6 transient non-community systems (40%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (53%) and private (47%).