Martin Water Department

Is your tap water safe to consume? Yes, our municipal water meets all EPA health standards. We have conducted extensive testing for over 80 potential contaminants. As shown in our reports, we only detected five of these substances, all at levels considered safe by regulators.

Our water source is groundwater drawn from the Memphis Sands Aquifer. Our priority is protecting this water from contamination, and we collaborate with the State to evaluate potential vulnerabilities. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has prepared a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) Report for our untreated water sources.

The SWAP Report assesses contamination risks to untreated water sources. To ensure safety, all public water systems treat and regularly test their water. Sources are rated as reasonably vulnerable, moderately susceptible or slightly susceptible based on geological factors and nearby human activities. The Martin Water Department sources are rated as reasonably susceptible to potential contamination.

You can review Tennessee's Source Water Assessment Program, summaries, susceptibility ratings and the TDEC report to EPA at https://www.tn.gov/environment/article/wr-wq-source-water-assessment. For additional information, contact Marty Ables at the Martin Water Plant between 7am and 3:40pm on weekdays to review our wellhead protection plan.

Why might contaminants appear in water? All water, including bottled varieties, naturally contains some level of impurities. The presence of contaminants doesn't necessarily indicate a health risk. For more information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

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For water quality questions, please call Marty Ables at 731-587-2676. Our Water Board meets on the second Monday of each month at 5:30pm at City Hall (109 University St). The public is welcome to attend these meetings.

The sources for municipal water include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels across land or underground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive materials, and can pick up substances from animal or human activity.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial contaminants from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants like salts and metals, occurring naturally or from urban runoff, industrial discharge, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides from agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic chemical contaminants from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants, either naturally-occurring or from oil/gas production and mining

EPA and Tennessee regulations limit contaminant levels in public water supplies to ensure safety. FDA regulations establish similar limits for bottled water.

Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems—including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and infants—should seek medical advice about water consumption, food preparation, and hygiene practices. EPA/CDC guidelines on reducing Cryptosporidium infection risk are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Regarding lead in drinking water: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead typically comes from service lines and home plumbing materials. While Martin Water Department provides quality water, we cannot control the materials used in plumbing components. To minimize lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For concerns, consider water testing. Information about lead in drinking water is available at http://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family%23water%23water.

Please report any suspicious activities around water facilities to 731-587-2676. Regarding medication disposal: flushing unused medications can contaminate drinking water. For proper disposal methods, visit https://www.tn.gov/environment/article/sp-unwanted-pharmaceuticals.

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