Legal limits do not equal optimal health. All contaminants on this page are within EPA legal limits. EWG exceedances reflect EWG's more conservative health thresholds — not regulatory violations. Lebanon's water is legally safe to drink.
Wilson County water: PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS compounds NOT detected
WWAWC's testing under EPA's UCMR 5 program found that PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHPA (perfluoroheptanoic acid), PFHXS (perfluorohexane sulfonate), and PFNA were all tested and not detected. This is a meaningful positive compared to many Middle Tennessee utilities where PFAS compounds are detected above EWG's health guidelines. Lebanon's Cumberland River source at this intake point appears to have less PFAS contamination than some other regional systems. PFAS monitoring continues — results can change as upstream industrial activity evolves.
2025 Official CCR Data — Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County
WWAWC's 2025 Lebanon Supply Water Quality Report provides the most current verified data. Source: Cumberland River at 231 North and Gilmore Hill Road, delivered by Lebanon Water System. Source rated slightly susceptible to contamination by TDEC — the best possible rating.
range 39–49 · EPA limit: 80 ppb
range 18–34 · EPA limit: 60 ppb
Lead 90th%: 1.0 ppb (2024)
Multiple PFAS tested — all ND
Source: Cumberland River at 231 North & Gilmore Hill Road — delivered by Lebanon Water System. SWAP rating: Slightly susceptible (best category). TTHMs: 49 ppb highest LRAA (range 39–49) — within EPA 80 ppb limit. HAA5: 32 ppb highest LRAA (range 18–34) — within EPA 60 ppb limit. Chlorine: 1.34 ppm avg (0.3–2.3). Nitrate: 0.193 ppm — well within EPA 10 ppm limit. Sodium: 12.8 ppm (7/2/25). TOC: 1.071 ppm avg (0.799–1.430) — treatment technique met. Lead (2024): 90th% = 1.0 ppb, 0 of 30 sites exceeded action level (range 0–2.48 ppb). Copper (2024): 90th% = 0.0661 ppm, 0/30 exceeded AL. Turbidity: 99.5% met limit. Total Coliform: 0 positives. PFAS (UCMR 5): PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHPA, PFHXS, PFNA — all Not Detected. Contact: Chris Leauber at 615-449-2951. Board meets quarterly at WWAWC office.
Drinking water vs. wastewater — an important distinction: The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) announced in August 2025 its intention to sue WWAWC and Adenus Operations over alleged wastewater discharges into residential yards and waterways near Old Hickory Lake. This is a wastewater treatment issue — entirely separate from drinking water quality. The 2025 drinking water CCR confirms all parameters met EPA standards with zero drinking water violations.
Nine Utilities Serving Lebanon and Surrounding Areas
Lebanon and surroundings are served by more utilities than almost any other city in this guide — nine separate water systems across Wilson, Smith, and Trousdale counties. Most draw from the Cumberland River either directly or via Lebanon Water System as a wholesale supplier.
Water & Wastewater Authority of Wilson County
Laguardo Utility District
Hartsville-Trousdale W&S UD
Smith Utility District
South Side Utility District #1, #2, #3
Twenty Five Utility District
Lebanon is the regional wholesale water hub
Lebanon Water System treats Cumberland River water and distributes it to WWAWC customers and a web of downstream utilities across Wilson, Smith, and Trousdale counties. When Lebanon treats water, that chemistry flows to Castalian Springs-Bethpage (where TTHMs build to 73.55 ppb in the distribution system), and to South Side and Twenty Five Utility Districts in Smith County. The critical positive: Lebanon's PFAS testing under UCMR 5 came back not detected across all major compounds.
Contaminants Exceeding EWG Health Guidelines
All contaminants below are within EPA legal limits. WWAWC 2025 CCR figures are the most current verified data for Lebanon. EWG historical data (2018-2023) covers the broader supply chain utilities.
HAA5: 32 ppb LRAA (18–34)
HAA5: 49.10 ppb LRAA
HAA5 above EWG
Key Utilities — Side-by-Side Comparison
| Contaminant | EWG Guideline | WWAWC Lebanon 2025 CCR |
CSB UD 2025 CCR |
Hartsville-Trousdale TN0000291 |
Laguardo UD TN0000394 |
Smith/South Side Smith County |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromodichloromethane | 0.06 ppb | Part of 49 ppb TTHMs | Part of 73.55 ppb TTHMs | 4.96 ppb · 83x | Above EWG | Above EWG |
| TTHMs | 0.15 ppb / 80 ppb | 49 ppb LRAA (39–49) | 73.55 ppb LRAA (34–76.80) | Above EWG | Above EWG | Above EWG |
| HAA5 | 0.1 ppb / 60 ppb | 32 ppb LRAA (18–34) | 49.10 ppb LRAA | Above EWG | Above EWG | Above EWG |
| PFOA / PFOS (UCMR 5) | 0.09 ppt / 4 ppt | Not detected | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified |
| Chromium-6 | 0.02 ppb | Above EWG | Not in CCR | Not in data | Not in data | Not in data |
| Nitrate | 0.14 ppm / 10 ppm | 0.193 ppm · 1.4x (2025) | Above EWG | Above EWG | Above EWG | Above EWG |
| Lead (2024) | 0 / AL 15 ppb | 1.0 ppb 90th% · 0/30 exceeded AL | 0/30 exceeded AL (2025) | EWG data | EWG data | EWG data |
| Chlorine | — | 1.34 ppm avg (2025) | Not in CCR | Not in data | Not in data | Not in data |
| Above EWG / Total | — | Verified 2025 CCR | 9 of 13 | 8 of 11 | 8 of 12 | 8 of 13 |
Protecting Children & Pregnant Women in Lebanon
Lebanon's low nitrate (0.193 ppm) and PFAS-not-detected results are meaningful positives for families with young children and pregnant women. TTHMs and HAAs remain the key concern — especially for Castalian Springs-Bethpage customers where TTHMs run 73.55 ppb.
Disinfection byproducts have been linked in epidemiological studies to pregnancy complications — low birth weight, preterm birth, and neural tube defects. WWAWC's TTHMs run 49 ppb (2025); CSB downstream runs 73.55 ppb. The first trimester is the highest-risk window. An under-sink RO system provides the most complete protection for drinking and cooking water.
At 0.193 ppm, Lebanon's nitrate is only 1.4x EWG's guideline — significantly lower than Nashville (0.362 ppm). No acute risk. However, if mixing infant formula with tap water, use RO-filtered water as a precaution for infants under 6 months. Boiling water concentrates nitrate — never boil for infant formula.
WWAWC's 2024 lead testing: 0 of 30 households exceeded the action level (90th percentile: 1.0 ppb). But lead comes from home plumbing — pre-1986 homes may have lead solder. Children under 6 and pregnant women are most vulnerable. Always use cold tap water. Flush 30 seconds if water has sat overnight in older Lebanon homes.
PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS compounds were not detected in Wilson County water under UCMR 5. For families with young children — where PFAS during early childhood may suppress immune development and vaccine effectiveness — this is meaningfully better than many Middle Tennessee utilities. RO provides the best insurance going forward.
Your Pets & Lebanon Water Quality
The same contaminants in Lebanon's water affect your pets. Lebanon's PFAS-not-detected result is a positive for pets too — PFAS accumulates in animal tissue the same way it does in humans, so less PFAS in the water means less lifetime accumulation.
A 15-pound dog drinking the same TTHM-level water as a 160-pound adult receives roughly 10x the relative exposure per pound of body weight. Long-term TTHM exposure has been associated with elevated bladder cancer risk in some dog breeds. Fill your pet's bowl from your RO-filtered tap. If on CSB water (73.55 ppb avg), whole-house carbon is especially beneficial.
Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and birds have tiny body masses — their relative contaminant exposure per unit body weight is far higher. At Lebanon's levels there is no acute risk, but chronic lifetime exposure warrants care. RO-filtered water is strongly recommended for all small caged animals and birds.
Chlorine in Lebanon tap water (1.34 ppm avg 2025 CCR) is directly toxic to fish and aquarium invertebrates. Never add untreated tap water to a tank. Activated carbon removes free chlorine. RO water is the gold standard for sensitive species, reef tanks, and shrimp — removing chlorine, TTHMs, nitrate, and chromium-6. Never boil tap water for aquariums.
Dogs and cats: RO-filtered tap water for their bowl. Whole-house carbon is a meaningful improvement if RO isn't installed. Small animals and birds: RO or filtered water strongly recommended. Fish: Always dechlorinate before adding to tank. Use RO for sensitive species. Never boil tap water for aquarium use.
What Hard Water Is Doing to Your Home Every Day
The Cumberland River flows through Tennessee's limestone geology, picking up calcium and magnesium that water treatment does not remove. Lebanon's typical hardness (8–10 GPG) creates these chemistry-driven effects throughout your home.
At 8–10 GPG, calcium and magnesium ions disrupt the skin's moisture barrier after showering — dryness, irritation, and increased eczema risk for children. Hard water coats hair with mineral deposits, making it feel rough. Color-treated hair fades faster. A softener or KDF showerhead filter addresses this directly.
White spots and cloudy film are calcium carbonate — limestone in liquid form. When hard Cumberland River water evaporates in your dishwasher, minerals bond to surfaces. Dishwasher detergent needs 50–75% more product in hard water. A softener eliminates spotting entirely.
Mineral deposits build up in fabric fibers — clothes feel stiff, whites yellow, colors fade, towels lose absorbency. Clothes washed in hard water wear out up to 15% faster. A softener restores detergent effectiveness and extends garment life significantly.
Scale reduces water heater efficiency 8% per GPG (U.S. Dept. of Energy). Lebanon's 8–10 GPG typical hardness accumulates significant scale in hot water systems over 2–4 years. Dishwashers, washing machines, and tankless water heater heat exchangers degrade faster on untreated hard water.
Cumberland River Limestone Hard Water in Lebanon
Lebanon draws from the Cumberland River at a point where the water flows through Tennessee's extensive limestone geology. Wilson County water is typically in the Hard zone — harder than Nashville (5.88 GPG verified 2025) due to the limestone character of this section of the watershed. Private wells in Wilson County can be significantly harder at 10–15+ GPG.
Lebanon Hard Water Impact Calculator
Cumberland River Limestone Hard Water Impact Calculator
Default: Lebanon's typical estimate of 9 GPG. Adjust to your test results.
Soft 3.5 GPG
Slightly Hard 7 GPG
Hard 10.5 GPG
Extremely Hard
Eco120°F
Standard130°F140°F
Tankless
PPM / mg/L
Grains per gallon
0–3Mod. Hard
3–5Hard
7–10Ext. Hard
10.5+
Lebanon & Surrounding Area Water Guide
Which utility serves your address depends on your location in Wilson, Smith, or Trousdale County. Lebanon Water System wholesale supplies most of the region.
Find Your Area
Chlorine Residual in Lebanon Water
Lebanon WWAWC (Water Works & Athletic Wellness Center) uses chlorine as its primary disinfectant. While chlorine effectively kills bacteria and viruses, the residual that reaches your tap is worth knowing — especially because it directly drives the formation of the disinfection byproducts (TTHMs, HAAs, chloroform, bromodichloromethane) that are Clarksville’s biggest water quality concerns.
Lebanon tap water runs at pool-level chlorine concentration
Lebanon WWAWC’s verified chlorine residual is 1.34 ppm average (2025 CCR) — within the pool range and the direct driver of Lebanon’s 8 contaminants above EWG health guidelines. For comparison, the EPA-recommended range for a swimming pool is 1.0–3.0 ppm — meaning your Lebanon tap water contains chlorine at roughly the same concentration as pool water. This is within legal limits and effective for disinfection, but it is the direct cause of the elevated TTHMs and haloacetic acids in Lebanon water. An NSF/ANSI 42-certified activated carbon filter removes chlorine taste and odor completely and reduces the formation of disinfection byproducts at the point of use.
Bottom line: You cannot taste or smell chlorine at 1.34 ppm the way you do in a pool because pool water is on your skin, not passing through your palate. But the chemistry is the same — and in Clarksville water it reacts with source water organic matter to form TTHMs and haloacetic acids above EWG guidelines. A whole-house activated carbon system is the most effective way to intercept chlorine before it reacts with your pipes and fixtures.
What chlorine at pool levels does to your body and home
Chlorine strips the skin’s natural oils and disrupts the moisture barrier. At 1.34 ppm — daily shower exposure — it causes dryness, itching, and irritation. People with eczema or sensitive skin often notice significant improvement after installing a whole-home carbon filtration system.
Chlorine oxidizes hair proteins, breaking down the outer cuticle layer. This causes dryness, frizz, brittleness, and color fade in dyed hair. At pool-range concentrations, daily washing strips the natural sebum that keeps hair supple. A shower-head carbon filter or whole-house system prevents this entirely.
Chlorine is an antimicrobial agent — that is exactly why utilities use it. Consumed daily in drinking water, it does not distinguish between harmful pathogens and beneficial gut microbiome bacteria. Emerging research links chronic chlorinated water consumption to microbiome disruption and digestive sensitivity. An under-sink carbon or RO filter removes chlorine from drinking water completely.
Chlorine bleaches and degrades fabric fibers over time, causing colors to fade faster, whites to yellow, and fabrics to wear thin sooner than they should. This is especially noticeable on dark clothing and athletic wear. Whole-house activated carbon filtration extends the life of clothes and towels significantly — a measurable return on investment over time.
The same pool-level chlorine that causes red, irritated eyes when swimming is present in your shower steam. Daily inhalation of chlorinated steam during showers exposes mucous membranes to chlorine gas byproducts. People with asthma or respiratory sensitivity often notice shower-steam irritation that disappears after installing a carbon shower filter.
Dogs and cats absorb chlorine through their skin and ingest it while drinking tap water. Many pet owners report improved coat condition after switching to filtered water. Chlorinated water also stresses chlorine-sensitive houseplants — fiddle leaf figs, ferns, and tropical plants in particular. Letting tap water sit overnight allows some chlorine to off-gas, but carbon filtration removes it completely and instantly.
Chlorine and newborn health in Lebanon
Infants under 12 months should not drink tap water containing chlorine without filtration — including water used to mix formula. Clarksville’s verified 1.34 ppm chlorine residual is the highest in the Middle Tennessee guide series — nearly double Nashville’s 1.60 ppm. The EPA sets no specific infant standard for chlorine, but pediatric health research consistently identifies disinfection byproducts (TTHMs, HAAs) from Duck River chlorination as a concern for early-life exposure.
Chlorine and its byproducts (TTHMs, HAAs) concentrate in formula made with unfiltered tap water. At 1.34 ppm — at the top of the pool range — Clarksville tap water carries the highest disinfection byproduct formation potential of any city in this series. An NSF/ANSI 42 activated carbon filter at the kitchen tap removes chlorine completely before mixing.
A newborn’s gut microbiome is still colonizing in the first months of life. Chlorine is antimicrobial by design — it does not distinguish between pathogens and beneficial bacteria. Filtered water is recommended for all infant consumption during this critical developmental window.
A newborn’s skin is 20–30% thinner than adult skin and absorbs chlorine during bathing. Pool-level residuals in tap water dry and irritate the developing skin barrier. A whole-home carbon filter removes chlorine from bath water — the most complete protection for infants bathing daily.
Chlorine off-gasses from warm water. During an infant bath or humidifier use with unfiltered tap water, the baby inhales chlorinated steam — a concern for developing lungs and airways. Whole-home carbon filtration removes chlorine before it reaches the tap, eliminating this exposure pathway.
If you have a newborn or are expecting: An NSF/ANSI 42 activated carbon filter at the kitchen tap removes chlorine from drinking and formula water. A whole-home carbon system removes it from bath water and humidifiers as well. At Clarksville’s 1.34 ppm level — the highest in Middle Tennessee — this is the single most important water filter investment for any household with a newborn.
The fix is simple and affordable. An NSF/ANSI 42-certified activated carbon filter — whether whole-house or under-sink — removes chlorine completely at the point of use. For Lebanon homes concerned about chlorine and Cumberland River disinfection byproducts, TTHMs, HAAs), a whole-house carbon system addresses both problems in one installation. See the filter recommendations below for Lebanon-specific sizing and pricing.
Filter Recommendations for Lebanon Homes
Filter Recommendations for Lebanon Homes
Filter Recommendations for Lebanon Homes
Lebanon's PFAS-not-detected result simplifies the priority list vs other Middle Tennessee cities. The key needs are TTHMs/HAAs (carbon filter), chromium-6 and nitrate (RO), and hard limestone water (softener). For CSB customers with TTHMs near the EPA limit, whole-house carbon is especially urgent.
The Lebanon Water Treatment Recommendation
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