Our Water Resources

Memphians are blessed with wonderful natural resources. Chief among them are the aquifers that supply our drinking water. 

Memphis is the largest city in the country that relies 100% on groundwater, according to the University of Memphis’ Center for Applied Earth Science and Engineering Research (CAESAR). We must all do our part to protect our water source. The Groundwater Foundation lists ways to keep our groundwater free from contamination:

• Go Native – use native plants in your landscape. They do not need as much fertilizer or water.
• Reduce Chemical Use – try using all-natural/non-toxic cleaners at home. Lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar can all be used to clean, and all are environmentally friendly.
• Throwing Things Out – when you need to get rid of hazardous household items like paint, motor oil, oven cleaner, etc., take it to the Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. DO NOT dump it in your yard or down a storm drain.

Visit www.groundwater.org/conserve-protect/ for more ideas on protecting our groundwater. 

The Shelby County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. It is located at 6305 Haley Road in Memphis. Before you go, click here and look over what the facility will and will not accept.

Quality Assurance

Specialists from MLGW’s Water Quality Assurance Laboratory perform tens of thousands of safety and quality tests on our water every year to ensure it meets or exceeds all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. MLGW issues a yearly Water Quality Report. The 2022 report is available now at mlgw.com/waterquality. Customers can request a printed copy by calling 320-3950 or emailing corpcomm@mlgw.org.