Water Authorities

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Setting Hardwater Standards for Public Water Systems

This bill sets a maximum hardwater level of 180 milligrams per liter for water distributed by public water systems in Tennessee and includes compliance requirements, exemptions, monitoring, and enforcement provisions.

What This Bill Does

• Sets the maximum allowable hardwater level at 180 mg/L for all public water systems in Tennessee.
• Requires public water systems receiving state funds for system upgrades after July 1, 2026, to meet this standard upon completion of their upgrade.
• Exempts public water systems from compliance if seasonal runoff causes hardwater levels above the limit, provided they notify and document the cause and submit a remediation plan as needed.
• Requires affected systems to return to compliance within 90 days after seasonal runoff ends or obtain approval for longer exemptions.
• Establishes monitoring requirements and mandates inclusion of results in annual water quality reports.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public water systems receiving state funds for system upgrades after July 1, 2026.
• All public water systems that may be affected by seasonal runoff causing hardwater levels above the limit.

Terms To Know

Hardwater

Water containing dissolved minerals expressed as calcium carbonate equivalents.

Seasonal Runoff

Temporary increase in water hardness due to precipitation, snowmelt, or other seasonal hydrological events.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact financial impact on public water systems that may need additional monitoring and testing equipment.
• It is unclear how many public water systems will be affected by this new standard in the long term.

Official Summary Text

This bill establishes the
maximum allowable hardwater level for water distributed by public water systems in this state
to

180
milligrams per liter, measured as calcium carbonate equivalents.
As used in such provision, "hardwater" means
water containing dissolved minerals, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalents
.

APPLICABILITY AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

This bill requires a
public water system that receives state funds for a system upgrade on or after July 1, 2026,
to
comply with the maximum hardwater standard
as described

above
upon completion of the system upgrade.
On the other hand, p
ublic water systems that do not receive state funds for system upgrades on or after July 1, 2026, are grandfathered and are
, thereby,
not required to comply with the maximum hardwater standard
as described

above
unless and until they receive state funds for a system upgra
de.

For purposes of
these provisions,
the receipt of state funds for routine maintenance repairs that cost less than $25,000,
for
administrative expenses, or
for
operational costs do not trigger the compliance requirements.

SEASONAL RUNOFF EXEMPTION

This bill provides that a
public water system that demonstrates that hardwater levels exceeding
180
milligrams per liter are directly caused by seasonal runoff are temporarily exempt from the
compliance
requirements
described above
during the affected period.
In order to
qualify for the seasonal runoff exemption, a public water system
must take all of the following actions:



Notify the department within 10 business days of first exceeding the
180
milligrams per liter threshold due to seasonal runoff
.



Provide documentation demonstrating that the elevated hardwater levels are directly attributable to seasonal runoff and not to system deficiencies or treatment failures
.



Submit a remediation plan, if required by the department, detailing measures to minimize the duration and extent of noncompliance.

Following the conclusion of the seasonal runoff period,
this bill requires
the affected public water system
to
return to compliance with the maximum hardwater standard established in
this bill
within 90 days.

A public water system may utilize the seasonal runoff exemption for a cumulative period not to exceed 120 days in a
12
-month period without prior approval from the department. Exemptions exceeding 120 days in a
12
-month period require written approval from the commissioner.

MONITORING AND REPORTING
–
ENFORCEMENT

This bill requires public
water systems subject to the requirements of this
bill to
monitor hardwater levels in accordance with protocols established by the department.

Results of hardwater monitoring must be included in the annual water quality reports required under applicable state and federal law.

The department
must
enforce this
bill
in accordance with the enforcement provisions set forth in
present law.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1962
By Pody

HOUSE BILL 1983
By Grills
HB1983
011426
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68,
Chapter 221, Part 7, relative to hardwater
standards.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 221, Part 7, is amended by
adding the following new section:
68-221-722. Maximum hardwater level standards.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "Hardwater" means water containing dissolved minerals, expressed
as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) equivalents;
(2) "Seasonal runoff" means the temporary increase in water hardness
levels directly attributable to precipitation, snowmelt, or other seasonal
hydrological events occurring during a defined period;
(3) "State funds" means any grants, loans, appropriations, or other
financial assistance provided by this state, including, but not limited to, funds
from the state revolving fund, capital improvement grants, or infrastructure
financing programs; and
(4) "System upgrade" means any capital improvement, infrastructure
modification, treatment facility enhancement, or equipment replacement that
costs twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more and is designed to improve,
expand, or modify the water treatment or distribution capacity of a public water
system.

- 2 - 011426

(b) Maximum hardwater standard. The maximum allowable hardwater level
for water distributed by public water systems in this state is one hundred eighty
milligrams per liter (180 mg/L), measured as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) equivalents.
(c) Applicability and compliance requirements.
(1) A public water system that receives state funds for a system upgrade
on or after July 1, 2026, must comply with the maximum hardwater standard
established in subsection (b) upon completion of the system upgrade.
(2) Public water systems that do not receive state funds for system
upgrades on or after July 1, 2026, are grandfathered under this section and are
not required to comply with the maximum hardwater standard established in
subsection (b) unless and until they receive state funds for a system upgrade.
(3) For purposes of this subsection (c), the receipt of state funds for
routine maintenance, repairs that cost less than twenty-five thousand dollars
($25,000), administrative expenses, or operational costs do not trigger the
compliance requirements of subdivision (c)(1).
(d) Seasonal runoff exemption.
(1) A public water system that demonstrates that hardwater levels
exceeding one hundred eighty milligrams per liter (180 mg/L) are directly caused
by seasonal runoff are temporarily exempt from the requirements of subsection
(b) during the affected period.
(2) To qualify for the seasonal runoff exemption, a public water system
shall:
(A) Notify the department within ten (10) business days of first
exceeding the one hundred eighty milligrams per liter (180 mg/L)
threshold due to seasonal runoff;

- 3 - 011426

(B) Provide documentation demonstrating that the elevated
hardwater levels are directly attributable to seasonal runoff and not to
system deficiencies or treatment failures; and
(C) Submit a remediation plan, if required by the department,
detailing measures to minimize the duration and extent of noncompliance.
(3) Following the conclusion of the seasonal runoff period, the affected
public water system must return to compliance with the maximum hardwater
standard established in subsection (b) within ninety (90) days.
(4) A public water system may utilize the seasonal runoff exemption for a
cumulative period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days in a twelve-
month period without prior approval from the department. Exemptions exceeding
one hundred twenty (120) days in a twelve-month period require written approval
from the commissioner.
(e) Monitoring and reporting.
(1) Public water systems subject to the requirements of this section must
monitor hardwater levels in accordance with protocols established by the
department.
(2) Results of hardwater monitoring must be included in the annual water
quality reports required under applicable state and federal law.
(f) Enforcement. The department shall enforce this section in accordance with
the enforcement provisions set forth in this chapter.
SECTION 2. The headings in this act are for reference purposes only and do not
constitute a part of the law enacted by this act. However, the Tennessee Code Commission is
requested to include the headings in any compilation or publication containing this act.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.