Murfreesboro · Rutherford County · 2026 EWG Data · 2 Utilities
Murfreesboro, TN Water Quality Guide 2026
What's actually in your Murfreesboro tap water — verified directly from EWG's database for both local utilities. 9 contaminants above EWG health guidelines in city water. Here's what they are, what they mean, and exactly what filters remove them.
Updated June 2026Sources: EWG Tap Water Database (2013–2024) · MWRD 2025 CCRIndependent — Tennessee Water Authority
Contaminant data sourced directly from EWG's Tap Water Database (testing 2013–2024). Both utilities were in full EPA compliance as of April–June 2024.
Legal limits do not equal optimal health. Every contaminant on this page is within EPA legal limits. "Exceeds EWG guideline" means detection above EWG's more conservative health thresholds — not a regulatory violation. Murfreesboro's water is safe by federal standards. This guide helps you understand what's in it and decide whether additional filtration makes sense for your household.
Murfreesboro, Tennessee — Rutherford CountyPopulation 207,000+ · Fastest growing city in TN
Your Two Murfreesboro Utilities at a Glance
Murfreesboro is served by two separate water systems. If you're not sure which serves your address, check your water bill — the utility name appears on the first page.
Both MWRD and CUDRC draw from the Stones River watershed and J. Percy Priest Lake. When chlorine disinfects organic-rich surface water, the same disinfection byproducts form regardless of which utility treats it. This is why TTHMs, HAAs, chloroform, and bromodichloromethane appear across both systems — it's the chemistry of treating Stones River water, not a treatment failure.
315K+
Rutherford County residents served across both utilities
9
Contaminants above EWG guidelines in MWRD water
40x
Bromodichloromethane above EWG guideline in MWRD
383x
HAA5 above EWG guideline — the highest EWG multiple
Contaminants Exceeding EWG Health Guidelines
All contaminants below are within EPA legal limits. The "Nx" figure shows how many times above EWG's more conservative health guideline each was detected.
Disinfection Byproducts — Primary concern from Stones River chlorination
Bromodichloromethane
Disinfection Byproduct (TTHM)
40x
MWRD · 34x CUDRC above EWG
MWRD (TN0000491)
2.40 ppb
EWG: 0.06 ppb · 40x
CUDRC (TN0000791)
2.06 ppb
EWG: 0.06 ppb · 34x
Health concern: Cancer risk and harm to fetal development. Forms when chlorine reacts with organic matter in Stones River source water during treatment. Both utilities are below the national average (5.89 ppb) and state average (3.91 ppb) but well above EWG's 0.06 ppb health guideline.
Chloroform
Disinfection Byproduct (TTHM)
20x
MWRD · 22x CUDRC above EWG
MWRD
8.13 ppb
EWG: 0.4 ppb · 20x
CUDRC
8.67 ppb
EWG: 0.4 ppb · 22x
Health concern: Cancer risk, pregnancy complications. The most prevalent TTHM in chlorinated surface water. Both Murfreesboro utilities are significantly below the Tennessee state average (17.7 ppb) and national average (16.2 ppb) — a positive indicator relative to statewide peers.
Dibromochloromethane
Disinfection Byproduct (TTHM)
6x
MWRD above EWG
MWRD
0.600 ppb
EWG: 0.1 ppb · 6x
CUDRC
Within EWG guideline
detected but below threshold
Health concern: Cancer risk and potential reproductive harm. Third member of the TTHM family. Only MWRD exceeds EWG's guideline — CUDRC's level is within the threshold, a slight advantage for suburban Rutherford County customers.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5 / HAA9)
Disinfection Byproduct Group
383x
MWRD HAA5 · 631x HAA9 above EWG
MWRD — HAA5
38.3 ppb
EWG: 0.1 ppb · 383x
MWRD — HAA9
37.9 ppb
EWG: 0.06 ppb · 631x
CUDRC — HAA5
29.5 ppb
295x EWG guideline
CUDRC — HAA9
32.1 ppb
535x EWG guideline
Health concern: Long-term cancer risk. HAAs are the second major group of disinfection byproducts. The "383x" and "631x" figures reflect EWG's extremely conservative guideline (0.06–0.1 ppb) vs the EPA legal limit of 60 ppb. Both utilities are well within legal limits. Activated carbon and reverse osmosis effectively reduce HAAs.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection Byproduct Group
250x+
Both utilities above EWG
MWRD
~38+ ppb
EPA limit: 80 ppb — compliant
CUDRC
38.4 ppb
EWG guideline: 0.15 ppb
Health concern: Combined cancer risk from all four TTHM compounds. EPA legal limit is 80 ppb — both utilities are well within compliance. EWG's 0.15 ppb guideline reflects California OEHHA's most protective public health goal. TTHMs are the most regulated disinfection byproducts in the US water system.
Industrial Contaminants
Chromium (Hexavalent / Cr-6)
Industrial / Naturally Occurring
8.5x
MWRD · 3.6x CUDRC above EWG
MWRD
0.169 ppb
EWG: 0.02 ppb · 8.5x — above state avg
CUDRC
0.0713 ppb
EWG: 0.02 ppb · 3.6x
Health concern: Known human carcinogen. MWRD's level (0.169 ppb) is above the Tennessee state average (0.102 ppb). No federal MCL exists specifically for hexavalent chromium. Reverse osmosis is the most effective removal method.
PFAS "Forever Chemicals"
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
PFAS — Forever Chemical
17x
MWRD above EWG
MWRD
1.50 ppt
EWG: 0.09 ppt · 17x · EPA MCL: 4 ppt
CUDRC
Detected
above EWG guideline — level not specified
Health concern: Cancer, immune suppression, thyroid disruption, reproductive harm. MWRD's 1.50 ppt is below the EPA's new 4 ppt MCL (finalized April 2024) but 17x above EWG's more protective 0.09 ppt guideline. Reverse osmosis and high-quality activated carbon both reduce PFOA effectively.
Agricultural Contaminants
Nitrate
Agricultural Runoff
6x
MWRD · 4x CUDRC above EWG
MWRD
0.883 ppm
EWG: 0.14 ppm · EPA limit: 10 ppm
CUDRC
0.577 ppm
4x EWG · well within EPA limit
Health concern: Cancer risk at chronic low-level exposure (EWG concern). Acute infant risk above 10 ppm — both utilities are far below that threshold. Source: fertilizer runoff from Stones River watershed agricultural land. Carbon filters do NOT remove nitrate. Reverse osmosis is required.
MWRD vs. CUDRC — Side-by-Side Comparison
Contaminant
EWG Guideline
MWRD (TN0000491) 107,304 served
CUDRC (TN0000791) 208,497 served
Best filter
Bromodichloromethane
0.06 ppb
2.40 ppb — 40x
2.06 ppb — 34x
Carbon / RO
Chloroform
0.4 ppb
8.13 ppb — 20x
8.67 ppb — 22x
Carbon / RO
Dibromochloromethane
0.1 ppb
0.600 ppb — 6x
Within guideline
Carbon / RO
HAA5
0.1 ppb
38.3 ppb — 383x
29.5 ppb — 295x
Carbon / RO
HAA9
0.06 ppb
37.9 ppb — 631x
32.1 ppb — 535x
Carbon / RO
Total TTHMs
0.15 ppb
~38 ppb — 250x+
38.4 ppb — 256x
Carbon / RO
Chromium (Hexavalent)
0.02 ppb
0.169 ppb — 8.5x
0.071 ppb — 3.6x
RO / Ion Exchange
PFOA
0.09 ppt
1.50 ppt — 17x
Detected above EWG
Carbon / RO
Nitrate
0.14 ppm
0.883 ppm — 6x
0.577 ppm — 4x
RO only
Contaminants above EWG
—
9 of 18
7 of 17
—
!
Context on the large multiples: HAA5 at "383x EWG" sounds alarming but needs perspective. EWG's 0.1 ppb guideline targets a 1-in-1,000,000 lifetime cancer risk level. The EPA legal limit is 60 ppb. MWRD's 38.3 ppb is well within legal limits. These numbers reflect the gap between what the law requires and what EWG considers optimal — not an emergency or regulatory failure.
The Stones River Limestone Reality
Murfreesboro's water comes from the East Fork Stones River and J. Percy Priest Lake — both flowing through Tennessee's extensive limestone geology. That limestone dissolves into the water as calcium and magnesium, creating hardness that causes scale on fixtures, appliance damage, and daily comfort issues. Hard water is the most concretely impactful daily concern for most Murfreesboro homeowners.
At these hardness levels, salt-free conditioners are overwhelmed. A properly sized ion exchange water softener is the only technology that actually removes hardness minerals.
10–14 GPG
Typical Murfreesboro city water hardness (grains per gallon)
Hard to Extremely Hard
8–15+ GPG
Private wells in Rutherford County limestone aquifers
Hard to Extremely Hard
12 GPG avg
Calculator default — typical Murfreesboro area average
Stones River Limestone Hard Water Impact Calculator
Enter your water's hardness reading to see your classification, appliance lifespan impact, and what size softener your home needs.
Murfreesboro Hard Water Impact Calculator
Defaults set to Murfreesboro's typical average. Adjust to match your specific test results.
Limestone minerals from Stones River solidify rapidly at higher temperatures
Estimated Appliance Lifespan Reduction
58% Faster Degradation
vs. a home with soft water (0–1 GPG)
Water heater efficiency loss
-24%
Scale insulation on heating elements
Dishwasher & washer lifespan
-38%
Mineral buildup on heating elements
Recommended softener size
64,000 grain system
Based on WQA sizing formula for your household & hardness
At 12 GPG — Murfreesboro's typical average — scale damage is significant and accelerates with water temperature. A properly sized ion exchange softener is strongly recommended. Salt-free conditioners cannot handle this hardness level.
Murfreesboro Neighborhood Water Guide
Residents search by neighborhood, not utility name. Here's what you need to know based on where you live.
Find Your Area
Marymont Springs
37128
Likely utility
MWRD or CUDRC
Fast-growing new construction area. Both utilities serve this corridor. Hard water at 12 GPG is the primary daily concern — scale accumulates quickly in newer homes with tankless water heaters. An activated carbon filter plus softener combination is the recommended starting point.
Blackman
37129
Likely utility
CUDRC
CUDRC serves much of this suburban corridor. CUDRC has 7 contaminants above EWG guidelines — slightly fewer than MWRD. Bromodichloromethane (34x EWG) and TTHMs are the primary concerns. A whole-house carbon filter addresses these effectively.
Northwoods
37130
Likely utility
MWRD
City limits area primarily served by MWRD (TN0000491). MWRD's chromium-6 level (0.169 ppb — 8.5x EWG) is the highest of the two utilities and above the Tennessee state average. An under-sink RO system is particularly recommended for MWRD customers. View EWG chromium-6 map for your zip →
Franklin Road / Downtown
37130
Likely utility
MWRD
Central Murfreesboro and older residential areas in city limits are primarily MWRD customers. Older homes may have galvanized plumbing that adds additional manganese or iron beyond what the utility reports. Consider an independent water test if your home was built before 1986.
Smyrna border / La Vergne
37167
Likely utility
CUDRC
Outlying Rutherford County areas along the northern and western corridors are primarily CUDRC territory. CUDRC's nitrate level (0.577 ppm) is lower than MWRD — a slight advantage. Same filtration approach applies: carbon for byproducts, RO for drinking water.
Not sure which utility serves your address? Check your water bill — the utility name and phone number appear on the first page. MWRD: 615-890-0862. CUDRC: 615-893-7225. You can also look up your address in the EWG database by zip code.
Chlorine Residual in Murfreesboro Water
Both Murfreesboro utilities — MWRD and CUD Rutherford — use chlorine as their 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 Murfreesboro’s biggest water quality concerns.
Pool-Level Chlorine
Murfreesboro tap water runs at pool-level chlorine concentration
Murfreesboro-area utilities run chlorine residuals estimated at 1.50–1.70 ppm at the tap. For comparison, the EPA-recommended range for a swimming pool is 1.0–3.0 ppm — meaning your Murfreesboro 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 Murfreesboro 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.
~1.60
ppm Murfreesboro area (est.)
1.0–3.0
ppm EPA pool range
0.0
ppm after activated carbon
Bottom line: You cannot taste or smell chlorine at ~1.60 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 Murfreesboro water it reacts with Stones River organic matter to form disinfection byproducts — contributing to chromium-6 at 8.5x EWG guidelines at MWRD. 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
Skin
Chlorine strips the skin’s natural oils and disrupts the moisture barrier. At ~1.60 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.
Hair
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.
Gut Health
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.
Laundry
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.
Eyes & Mucous Membranes
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.
Pets & Plants
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.
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 Murfreesboro homes concerned about chlorine, chromium-6 (MWRD), and disinfection byproducts, TTHMs, HAAs), a whole-house carbon system addresses both problems in one installation. See the filter recommendations below for Murfreesboro-specific sizing and pricing.
Filter Recommendations for Murfreesboro Homes
Murfreesboro's water profile has two distinct concerns: disinfection byproducts from Stones River chlorination (primary chemical concern) and hard water from limestone geology (primary home infrastructure concern). Here's the recommended approach for most households.
The Murfreesboro Water Treatment Recommendation
1.
Whole-house activated carbon backwashing filter
Addresses the primary concern — TTHMs, HAAs, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, and chlorine throughout your entire home. Cost: $1,400–$4,500 installed from a local independent dealer.
Under-sink reverse osmosis — drinking & cooking water
Removes PFOA, nitrate, chromium-6, and any remaining byproducts. NSF/ANSI 58 certified. Especially important for MWRD customers given the elevated chromium-6 level. Cost: $600–$2,000 installed.
Removes: PFOA · Nitrate · Chromium-6 · All DBPs
3.
Water softener — ion exchange, demand-initiated
Addresses Rutherford County's hard water (12 GPG Murfreesboro average). Essential for homes with tankless water heaters and high-end appliances. A properly sized 64,000 grain system handles most Murfreesboro households. Cost: $2,500–$4,500 installed.
Removes: Ca/Mg hardness · Barium · Radium
Minimum effective solution: An NSF/ANSI 42+53 certified faucet or countertop carbon filter at your kitchen tap reduces TTHMs and HAAs at the drinking point. It won't address chromium-6, nitrates, or PFOA — but it handles your highest daily exposure to the most prevalent contaminants.
Frequently Asked Questions — Murfreesboro TN Water
Yes. Both MWRD and CUDRC were in full compliance with all EPA health-based drinking water standards as of the latest quarterly assessment (April–June 2024). EWG exceedances are not regulatory violations — they reflect the gap between EPA legal limits and EWG's more conservative health thresholds. Murfreesboro's water is legally safe to drink.
The primary concern is disinfection byproducts — TTHMs and HAAs — formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in the Stones River source water. Both utilities detect these 250–600x above EWG's health guidelines, though within EPA legal limits. Secondary concerns include chromium-6 (8.5x EWG for MWRD), PFOA (17x EWG for MWRD), and nitrate (6x EWG for MWRD). Hard water from Rutherford County's limestone geology is the primary practical concern for appliances and daily comfort.
Murfreesboro city water from the Stones River watershed averages around 12 GPG for the broader area. Private wells in Rutherford County limestone aquifers commonly test 8–15+ GPG. A properly sized ion exchange water softener is recommended for most Murfreesboro homes — particularly those with tankless water heaters. Salt-free conditioners are inadequate at these hardness levels.
MWRD (TN0000491) serves 107,304 people in Murfreesboro city limits with 9 contaminants above EWG guidelines. CUDRC (TN0000791) serves 208,497 people in broader Rutherford County with 7 above EWG guidelines. MWRD shows higher chromium-6 (0.169 vs 0.071 ppb) and detected dibromochloromethane above EWG guidelines while CUDRC did not. Both require the same filtration approach.
For comprehensive protection: (1) A whole-house activated carbon backwashing filter ($1,400–$4,500) addresses disinfection byproducts. (2) An under-sink reverse osmosis system ($600–$2,000) removes PFOA, nitrate, and chromium-6 for drinking and cooking. (3) A water softener ($2,500–$4,500) handles Rutherford County hard water to protect appliances.
