DeKalb County, Tennessee — public water systems
At a glance
6 active public water systems are filed under DeKalb County, Tennessee in EPA's SDWIS records, together reporting 29,977 people served. The largest is Dekalb Utility District #1, which reports serving 17,960 people. 5 are community water systems serving people where they live; the other 1 are non-community systems, such as schools, workplaces, campgrounds and gas stations with their own supply.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO, refreshed quarterly.
Active systems
6
Population served
30K
Community systems
5
Groundwater share
16.7%
How does DeKalb County compare with other Tennessee counties?
DeKalb County has the 80th-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 29,977 people served in total, the 52nd-largest county figure in the state and 0.4% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 4,996 people, about 14% 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 DeKalb County's drinking water come from?
By primary water source, DeKalb County's active systems draw on surface water (3, 50%), purchased surface water (2, 33%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 17%). Overall, 17% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 83% on surface water, compared with 80% and 20% across Tennessee. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. The county's largest system, Dekalb Utility District #1, draws primarily on surface water.
What kinds of water systems operate in DeKalb County?
DeKalb County's active systems break down as 5 community systems (83%) and 1 transient non-community systems (17%). 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 (83%) and private (17%).
Water systems in DeKalb County
🔒 Create a free account to export CSV| # | Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dekalb Utility District #1 | DeKalb | 17,960 | Community | Surface water |
| 2 | Smithville Water System | DeKalb | 7,049 | Community | Surface water |
| 3 | Alexandria Water System | DeKalb | 2,626 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| 4 | Dowelltown-Liberty W.S. | DeKalb | 1,065 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| 5 | Dekalb Utility District #4 | DeKalb | 927 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| 6 | Indian Creek Youth Camp | DeKalb | 350 | Transient non-community | Surface water |
DeKalb County water systems: frequently asked questions
How many public water systems are in DeKalb County, Tennessee?
EPA's SDWIS records file 6 active public water systems under DeKalb County, Tennessee: 5 community systems (83%) and 1 transient non-community systems (17%).
Who supplies drinking water in DeKalb County, TN?
The largest community water systems filed under DeKalb County are Dekalb Utility District #1 (17,960 people served), Smithville Water System (7,049 people served) and Alexandria Water System (2,626 people served). Which system serves a particular address depends on its service area, which EPA's SDWIS records do not include; a water bill or the local utility can confirm it.
Does DeKalb County's drinking water come from groundwater or surface water?
Of the 6 active public water systems in DeKalb County, 17% draw mainly on groundwater and 83% on surface water, counting purchased supplies. The largest system, Dekalb Utility District #1, uses surface water.
Where can I find a water quality report for DeKalb County?
Each community water system must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1, covering the previous calendar year. 5 community systems are filed under DeKalb County, so the report to look for is the one from the system that supplies your address.
How can I check violations for a water system in DeKalb County?
Open the system's profile from the list on this page. Each profile shows the most recent Safe Drinking Water Act violations in EPA's records, with plain-English labels and whether each one is resolved. For current compliance status, EPA ECHO is the primary source.
More Tennessee water systems
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, “Public water systems in DeKalb County, Tennessee”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/tennessee/dekalb (data as of October 1, 2026).