Is there PFAS in Bedford County Utility District water?
Some. At least one sample reached an EPA limit, but the average at every sampling point stayed below it.
Bedford County Utility District
Serves 22,908 people · 4 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Aug 2023 to Jun 2024
One or more samples at an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
2.1 ppt avg · max 8.2
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
1.2 ppt avg · max 4.8
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
not detected
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFHxA, PFPeA.
Bedford County Utility District is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Shelbyville, Tennessee, serving about 22,908 people, including Shelbyville, Unionville, Normandy. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Aug 2023 and Jun 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFHxS, PFDoA, PFDA, PFUnA, PFNA, ADONA, PFHpA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, HFPO-DA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFBA, PFMBA, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFHpS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, 6:2 FTS.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Tennessee
All 277 tested systems in Tennessee
ZIP codes served
37160 37180 37360
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Bedford County Utility District water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID TN0000517. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/tennessee/bedford-county-utility-district/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID TN0000517). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
