COUNTY REPORT AR

Columbia County, Arkansas

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 83/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Covering 6 ZIP codes, Columbia County earns a high grade for tap water — most systems report zero health-based violations, and the overall compliance rate comfortably exceeds federal benchmarks.

How Columbia County Compares

Columbia County83/100
Arkansas avg76/100
National avg68/100

How Columbia County Compares

B
County Grade
83/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
14
Water Systems

Columbia County scores 7 points above the Arkansas state average (76/100) and 15 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
83
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 71753 (94/100)
Lowest ZIP: 71770 (55/100)
$115K
Median Home Value
$780
Avg Remediation (68% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Columbia County, Arkansas

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14.7 (asthma 11%, diabetes 14.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $428, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.372% avg pipe failure probability, 33% of ZIPs at high risk

58% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Columbia County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
7 (7 health)
2022
7 (7 health)
2023
20 (20 health)
2024
21 (21 health)
2025
2 (2 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 21 violations. Past 5 years: 57 total (57 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 37.7% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1973
Median Build Year
58%
Pre-1978 Housing
37%
Pipe Failure Probability
33%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $428

Energy Code Gap $195/yr
Flood $133/yr
Water / Lead $100/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

11,978 housing units in Columbia County

Pre-1940 4%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 29%
1980–1999 31%
2000+ 18%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Columbia County

$115K
Median Home Value
$780
Est. Remediation Cost
0.7%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Columbia County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Columbia County residents

Asthma 11% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 37.7% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Columbia County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Dorcheat Water Association 1,860 51
2 Magnolia Waterworks 11,657 34
3 Lakeside Water Association 1,876 34
4 Walker Water Association 1,182 20
5 Emerson Waterworks 1,145 17

14 total water systems serve Columbia County.

All ZIP Codes in Columbia County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Columbia County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 71753 Magnolia 94 A 3 $167K
2 71754 Magnolia 94 A 3
3 71752 Mc Neil 88 A 0 $58K
4 71740 Emerson 87 A 14 (1 health) $142K
5 71861 Taylor 78 B 17 (8 health) $115K
6 71770 Waldo 55 C 14 (14 health) $92K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Columbia County

Editorial methodology pairs each documented risk in this county with the buyer category that addresses it, drawing on water-quality detections, housing-stock lead exposure, EPA Radon Zone designation, and FEMA flood and wildfire ratings. NSF-certified options surface where applicable, and products that match the specific contaminant take priority.

Overview

Columbia County in Arkansas covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (83/100).

5 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 23 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Arkansas water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Columbia County?
Columbia County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 6 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Columbia County?
Columbia County is served by 14 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Columbia County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Columbia County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $428 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Columbia County?
The median home build year in Columbia County is 1973. 58% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Columbia County compare to Arkansas?
Columbia County has an average water safety score of 83/100, which is above the Arkansas state average of 76/100.

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