Hawkins County, Tennessee — public water systems

How does Hawkins County compare with other Tennessee counties?

Hawkins County has the 21st-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 48,812 people served in total, the 36th-largest county figure in the state and 0.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 4,068 people, about 30% 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 Hawkins County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Hawkins County's active systems draw on groundwater under influence of surface water (4, 33%), groundwater (4, 33%), surface water (3, 25%) and purchased surface water (1, 8.3%). Overall, 67% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 33% on surface water, compared with 80% and 20% across Tennessee. Groundwater under the influence of surface water is well or spring water that the regulator has found to be affected by nearby surface water, so it is regulated under the surface-water treatment rules. The county's largest system, First U.D. of Hawkins County, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Hawkins County?

Hawkins County's active systems break down as 8 community systems (67%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (8.3%) and 3 transient non-community systems (25%). 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 non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. 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 (75%) and private (25%).