Dekalb, TN

Moderate Risk (30/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Dekalb in Tennessee · Population: 20,551

TRI sites such as Tenneco Braking (frmly Federal-Mogul Motorparts Llc); Tenneco Inc.; Shiroki N.a. Inc.; SDWIS systems such as DEKALB UTILITY DISTRICT #1; SMITHVILLE WATER SYSTEM; ALEXANDRIA WATER SYSTEM anchor Dekalb, TN's EPA extract. Derived burden score 30/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Dekalb include SMITHVILLE WATER SYSTEM; ALEXANDRIA WATER SYSTEM; DEKALB UTILITY DISTRICT #4, while Tenneco Braking (frmly Federal-Mogul Motorparts Llc) leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 38 / peak 77 in 2024.

Burden score 30/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Dekalb -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Dekalb, TN: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

-20.6%

2 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

-20.6%

107.1 thousand lb → 85.0 thousand lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 1 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Dekalb, TN's total reported releases fell from 107.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 85.0 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Dekalb, TN's water releases rose from 62 lb in 2022 to 290 lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Dekalb, TN's air releases fell from 3.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 2.6 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Dekalb, TN's off-site transfers fell from 103.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 82.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
20,551
TRI Facilities
3
Water Systems
4
Superfund Sites
0
Total Releases
451.6K lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 312 (93%) 24 0 77
2023 333 (95%) 19 0 90
2022 348 (97%) 11 0 100
2021 349 (96%) 14 0 84
2020 336 (99%) 5 0 61
2024 Good Air Quality: 93% of days
Median AQI: 38

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Tennessee, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (4)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
DEKALB UTILITY DISTRICT #1 17,960 0
SMITHVILLE WATER SYSTEM 7,049 6
ALEXANDRIA WATER SYSTEM 2,626 8
DEKALB UTILITY DISTRICT #4 927 4

TRI Facilities (3)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Tenneco Braking (frmly Federal-Mogul Motorparts Llc) 442.9K lbs
2 Tenneco Inc. 8.5K lbs
3 Shiroki N.a. Inc. 151 lbs

Cities in Dekalb (2)

Smithville
3 facilities · 3 water
Alexandria
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Dekalb, Tennessee?
Dekalb, TN has an environmental risk score of 30/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 3 TRI facilities, 0 Superfund sites, and 4 water systems on record. 3 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Dekalb?
No Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) sites are currently registered in Dekalb, TN in the EPA database.
How many toxic release facilities are in Dekalb?
Dekalb, TN has 3 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 451.6K lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Dekalb?
In 2024, Dekalb, TN recorded a median AQI of 38 and a peak AQI of 77. 93% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Dekalb?
Dekalb, TN has 4 EPA-regulated water systems. 3 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Dekalb?
Environmental compliance in Dekalb, Tennessee is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Tennessee state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro