Tumbling Shoals, AR Water Safety: 99/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
Based on current monitoring, Tumbling Shoals holds an above-average drinking water safety record for AR — violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
How Tumbling Shoals Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Tumbling Shoals Residents
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 43% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- CDC health risk index: 16.24 — above typical levels.
Tumbling Shoals's Water Providers
While 1 water system appear in federal records for Tumbling Shoals, AR, one provider supplies the majority of residential connections — making it the central point of infrastructure and compliance accountability for most households.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas (population ~821), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 6,608 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Tumbling Shoals — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Tumbling Shoals: A (99/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Tumbling Shoals water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72581 | A | Tumbling Shoals Water Assoc | 6,608 |
All ZIP Codes in Tumbling Shoals
- 72581 [A]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Tumbling Shoals Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Tumbling Shoals Infrastructure Age
With 43% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When trying to understand water quality at the household level, the year a home was built often matters more than any city-wide water report. That's because the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in plumbing, and the earlier phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, created sharp discontinuities in residential plumbing risk by construction era. Tumbling Shoals's median build year of 1980 puts the city in the transition zone: a substantial share of the housing stock postdates the solder ban, but a comparable fraction predates it — with the oldest homes carrying both the solder risk and the pipe risk simultaneously. Whether any individual household sits on the safer or riskier side of these thresholds is the key question, and it's one the city-wide median alone can't answer.
Most homes in Tumbling Shoals were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Tumbling Shoals: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 43% of Tumbling Shoals homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Tumbling Shoals, AR