State Hub
Arkansas Water Quality
501
Utilities in database
3.0M
Residents served
1
With open violations
171
PFAS monitored
Quick Answer
Arkansas public drinking water is served by 501 EPA-tracked water systems, providing service to approximately 3.0 million residents through public utilities. 1 of those systems currently have open health-based violations on record in the EPA federal database. 171 systems have official PFAS monitoring records from the EPA UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). About 32% of AR residents use private wells, which fall outside federal utility compliance monitoring.
1 Arkansas water system has an open health-based violation recorded in EPA SDWIS. An open violation means a contaminant exceeded a federal limit and the violation has not been formally resolved in the federal database. Check individual utility pages for current status.
Open Health-Based Violations in Arkansas
Records sourced from EPA SDWIS. A record may be under review or resolved at the utility level but not yet updated in federal records. Water Utility Report does not determine whether water is safe to drink.
Drinking Water in Arkansas
Arkansas has 501 community water systems serving approximately 3.0 million residents. Primary water sources include surface water. The most commonly reported contaminants include disinfection byproducts, nitrates. 32% of Arkansas residents rely on private wells. ADH holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Highest Risk Utilities
Arkansas systems with open health-based violations in EPA records.
Safest Large Utilities
Arkansas systems with no open health violations serving 10,000+ residents.
Utilities in Arkansas
326–350 of 501Hazen Waterworks
AR0000452 · 1,301 served
Oppelo Water Department
AR0000120 · 1,300 served
Diamond City Water
AR0000061 · 1,290 served
Horatio Waterworks
AR0000518 · 1,278 served
Fordyce Rural Water Assoc
AR0000635 · 1,274 served
Central Logan County Pwfb
AR0000845 · 1,268 served
Brunner Hill Water Assoc
AR0000837 · 1,265 served
Oxford Waterworks
AR0000259 · 1,253 served
Cotter Waterworks
AR0000028 · 1,233 served
Elaine Waterworks
AR0000418 · 1,233 served
Central City Water Department
AR0000503 · 1,227 served
Breckenridge Union Water Assoc
AR0000223 · 1,225 served
River Valley Water Assn
AR0000833 · 1,207 served
Ola Waterworks
AR0000604 · 1,204 served
Old Union Public Water Authority
AR0000559 · 1,200 served
Omaha Waterworks
AR0000064 · 1,188 served
Ash Flat Water Company
AR0000527 · 1,186 served
Walker Water Association
AR0000116 · 1,182 served
Bradley Co Rural Water Association
AR0000054 · 1,163 served
Emerson Waterworks
AR0000111 · 1,145 served
New Hope Water Association
AR0000683 · 1,136 served
Locke-fern Dollard Rd Ww Pfb
AR0000912 · 1,135 served
Strong Waterworks
AR0000556 · 1,131 served
Norphlet Waterworks
AR0000554 · 1,112 served
Lawson-urbana Water Assoc
AR0000548 · 1,108 served
Key Contaminant Concerns in Arkansas
These contaminants appear most frequently in Arkansas utility records or pose elevated risk in this region based on EPA data.
Nitrates
Nitrate (NO₃⁻) is a nitrogen-containing compound that forms naturally through the decomposition of organic matter. At elevated concentrations — almost always caused by human activity — nitrate is converted in the digestive system to nitrite, which then reacts with hemoglobin to form methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin that cannot carry oxygen. In the body, nitrite also reacts with amines in food to form N-nitroso compounds (nitrosamines) — known carcinogens classified by the IARC as Group 2A (probable human carcinogens). The United States applies over 23 million tons of nitrogen fertilizer annually, making agricultural runoff the dominant source of nitrate contamination in U.S. groundwater.
EPA limit: 10 mg/L
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
Independent Water Testing
Find a certified lab in Arkansas
Utility compliance records show what water systems report to the EPA. An independent test from a certified laboratory confirms what's actually in your tap water. Arkansas labs can test for PFAS, lead, nitrates, bacteria, and dozens of other contaminants.
Explore Water Quality in Arkansas
Hazen Waterworks
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Oppelo Water Department
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Diamond City Water
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
PFAS monitoring records — Arkansas
171 water systems in Arkansas with EPA UCMR 5 records
Active drinking water violations
1 open health-based violation on record — view official EPA SDWIS data
Lead in Arkansas drinking water
State-specific lead data, violation utilities, and testing guidance
PFAS in Arkansas drinking water
State-specific PFAS data, MCL context, and treatment options
Certified water testing labs in Arkansas
Labs certified for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, and bacteria testing
Water treatment options
Reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and filtration guides with cost ranges
Data sources and methodology
How WaterUtilityReport.com sources and validates official EPA data
Common Questions About Arkansas Drinking Water
Does Arkansas drinking water have PFAS?
171 Arkansas water systems have EPA UCMR 5 PFAS monitoring records (2023–2025)
Which Arkansas water utilities have open violations?
1 systems have open health-based violations in EPA SDWIS — search for your utility
How do I test my water in Arkansas?
State-certified labs for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, nitrate, and bacteria testing
What treatment removes PFAS from AR tap water?
Reverse osmosis removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates — cost, maintenance, and NSF certification explained
What do Arkansas PFAS records tell me about my water?
EPA limits, health context, and what UCMR 5 detection above MRL means for your water
How is Arkansas water quality data sourced here?
EPA SDWIS violations, UCMR 5 PFAS records, and CCR data — sources, accuracy notes, and limitations
Arkansas Water FAQs
Data sources: Utility compliance and violation data from EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System). PFAS monitoring records from EPA UCMR 5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5, 2023–2025). Contaminant data from EPA and ATSDR public references. This page summarizes public records — it is not a compliance determination. Methodology →
Last updated: 2026-04-22