Unicoi County, Tennessee — public water systems
At a glance
3 active public water systems are filed under Unicoi County, Tennessee in EPA's SDWIS records, together reporting 16,813 people served. The largest is Erwin Utilities Authority, which reports serving 12,236 people. 2 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
3
Population served
16.8K
Community systems
2
Groundwater share
100%
How does Unicoi County compare with other Tennessee counties?
Unicoi County has the 149th-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 16,813 people served in total, the 70th-largest county figure in the state and 0.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 5,604 people, roughly in line with 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 Unicoi County's drinking water come from?
By primary water source, Unicoi County's active systems draw on groundwater under influence of surface water (1, 33%), purchased groundwater under influence (1, 33%) and groundwater (1, 33%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none 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, Erwin Utilities Authority, draws primarily on groundwater under influence of surface water.
What kinds of water systems operate in Unicoi County?
Unicoi County's active systems break down as 2 community systems (67%) and 1 transient non-community systems (33%). 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 (67%) and private (33%).
Water systems in Unicoi County
🔒 Create a free account to export CSV| # | Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erwin Utilities Authority | Unicoi | 12,236 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| 2 | Unicoi Utility District | Unicoi | 4,527 | Community | Purchased groundwater under influence |
| 3 | Coffee Ridge Baptst Church | Unicoi | 50 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
Unicoi County water systems: frequently asked questions
How many public water systems are in Unicoi County, Tennessee?
EPA's SDWIS records file 3 active public water systems under Unicoi County, Tennessee: 2 community systems (67%) and 1 transient non-community systems (33%).
Who supplies drinking water in Unicoi County, TN?
The largest community water systems filed under Unicoi County are Erwin Utilities Authority (12,236 people served) and Unicoi Utility District (4,527 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 Unicoi County's drinking water come from groundwater or surface water?
Of the 3 active public water systems in Unicoi County, all draw mainly on groundwater and none on surface water, counting purchased supplies. The largest system, Erwin Utilities Authority, uses groundwater under influence of surface water.
Where can I find a water quality report for Unicoi 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. 2 community systems are filed under Unicoi 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 Unicoi 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 Unicoi County, Tennessee”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/tennessee/unicoi (data as of October 1, 2026).