Public water system · TN0000095
ActiveCarthage Water System
At a glance
Carthage Water System (PWSID TN0000095) is an active community water system in Smith County, Tennessee. It reports serving 3,624 people through 1,410 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2019.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
3,624
Service connections
1,410
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Carthage Water System compare with other water systems in Smith County?
By EPA's size categories, Carthage Water System is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). Smith County has 7 active public water systems, and Carthage Water System is the 3rd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is roughly in line with the county average of 3,320 people per system, and accounts for 16% of the 23,241 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Tennessee, the 1,383 active systems average 5,780 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Carthage Water System is about half of that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Tennessee has 450 active community water systems, 33% of the state's 1,383 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 151 Tennessee systems (11%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Carthage Water System?
EPA lists Carthage Water System as owned by a local government. The TN state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 7 of the 7 active systems in Smith County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Carthage Water System have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2019. The violations listed here began between October 2006 and April 2019. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total trihalomethanes (TTHM) (5 of them). EPA lists 7 as resolved, 4 as archived and 1 as addressed. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status. Addressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-12-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Archived |
| 2012-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 2010-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingFailure Submit IDSE/Subpart V Plan Rpt · code 35 | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0600 | No | Addressed |
| 2009-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine (IDSE) · code 30 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Archived |
| 2009-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine (IDSE) · code 30 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Archived |
| 2007-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2007-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Carthage Water System: frequently asked questions
Who runs Carthage Water System?
Carthage Water System (PWSID TN0000095) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the TN state drinking water program.
How many people does Carthage Water System serve?
Carthage Water System reports serving 3,624 people through 1,410 service connections in Smith County, Tennessee.
Where does Carthage Water System get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Carthage Water System have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2019. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Carthage Water System's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2019. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the TN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Carthage Water System's water quality report?
As a community water system, Carthage Water System must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Smith County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Utility District | Smith | 8,913 | Community | Surface water |
| South Side U.D. #1 | Smith | 4,431 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Cordell Hull Utility District | Smith | 3,220 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Twenty Five Utility District | Smith | 2,159 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| South Side U.D. #2 | Smith | 702 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| South Side U.D. #3 | Smith | 192 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Carthage Water System, PWSID TN0000095, Tennessee”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/tennessee/carthage-water-system-tn0000095 (data as of October 1, 2026).