Marion County, Tennessee — public water systems

How does Marion County compare with other Tennessee counties?

Marion County has the 24th-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 28,274 people served in total, the 54th-largest county figure in the state and 0.4% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,570 people, about 56% 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 Marion County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Marion County's active systems draw on groundwater (3, 27%), surface water (3, 27%), groundwater under influence of surface water (3, 27%) and purchased surface water (2, 18%). Overall, 55% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 45% 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, Jasper Water Dept, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Marion County?

Marion County's active systems break down as 7 community systems (64%) and 4 transient non-community systems (36%). 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 private (64%) and local government (36%).