Public water system · TN0000576
ActiveRiceville Utility District
At a glance
Riceville Utility District (PWSID TN0000576) is an active community water system in McMinn County, Tennessee. It reports serving 3,843 people through 1,556 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
3,843
Service connections
1,556
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Riceville Utility District compare with other water systems in McMinn County?
By EPA's size categories, Riceville Utility District is a medium system (3,301 to 10,000 people). McMinn County has 11 active public water systems, and Riceville Utility District is the 5th-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 22% below the county average of 4,958 people per system, and accounts for 7% of the 54,536 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 Riceville Utility District is about 43% below 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. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 121 Tennessee systems (8.7%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Riceville Utility District?
EPA lists Riceville Utility District 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. 6 of the 11 active systems in McMinn County (55%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Riceville Utility District have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between June 1995 and July 2025. By type: 6 contaminant level above the legal limit, 4 monitoring and reporting, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 9 as resolved and 3 as archived. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2017-04-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Routine (RTCR) · code 3A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Repeat Minor (TCR) · code 26 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Archived |
| 2012-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2000-02-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Archived |
| 1995-06-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Archived |
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.
Riceville Utility District: frequently asked questions
Who runs Riceville Utility District?
Riceville Utility District (PWSID TN0000576) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the TN state drinking water program.
How many people does Riceville Utility District serve?
Riceville Utility District reports serving 3,843 people through 1,556 service connections in McMinn County, Tennessee.
Where does Riceville Utility District get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does Riceville Utility District have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. 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 Riceville Utility District'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, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the TN state drinking water program.
Where can I find Riceville Utility District's water quality report?
As a community water system, Riceville Utility District 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 McMinn County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Utilities Board | McMinn | 26,424 | Community | Surface water |
| Etowah Utilities | McMinn | 12,851 | Community | Surface water |
| Niota Water System | McMinn | 3,932 | Community | Purchased groundwater under influence |
| Englewood Water Dept | McMinn | 3,917 | Community | Surface water |
| Calhoun-Charleston U.D. | McMinn | 2,959 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Resolute Forest Products | McMinn | 200 | Non-transient non-community | 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, “Riceville Utility District, PWSID TN0000576, Tennessee”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/tennessee/riceville-utility-district-tn0000576 (data as of October 1, 2026).