COUNTY REPORT AR

Desha County, Arkansas

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 75/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

In recent assessments, Desha County's 6 ZIP codes record strong, consistent water safety outcomes.

How Desha County Compares

Desha County75/100
Arkansas avg76/100
National avg68/100

How Desha County Compares

B
County Grade
75/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
13
Water Systems

Desha County scores 1 points below the Arkansas state average (76/100) and 7 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
75
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 71666 (87/100)
Lowest ZIP: 71662 (33/100)
$94K
Median Home Value
$2,327
Avg Remediation (248% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Desha 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: 18.8 (asthma 11.8%, diabetes 21.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $892, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.408% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk

69.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2023
2 (2 health)
2024
10 (10 health)
2025
26 (26 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 26 violations. Past 5 years: 38 total (38 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 11.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 21.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 46.6% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1972
Median Build Year
69.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
41%
Pipe Failure Probability
50%
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: $892

Flood $500/yr
Energy Code Gap $225/yr
Water / Lead $167/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

4,134 housing units in Desha County

Pre-1940 5%
1940–1959 12%
1960–1979 42%
1980–1999 28%
2000+ 14%

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 Desha County

$94K
Median Home Value
$2,327
Est. Remediation Cost
2.5%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value moderate burden

Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.

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 Desha County residents

Asthma 11.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 21.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 46.6% (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 Desha County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Dumas Waterworks 6,338 61
2 Pickens Waterworks 49 61
3 Arkansas City Waterworks 376 4
4 Pendleton-pea Ridge Water Assn 845 2
5 Yorktown Water Association 7,364 2

13 total water systems serve Desha County.

All ZIP Codes in Desha County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Desha County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 71666 Rohwer 87 A 0
2 71670 Tillar 87 A 0 $110K
3 71674 Watson 87 A 0 $46K
4 71639 Dumas 83 B 2 (2 health) $98K
5 71630 Arkansas City 71 B 4 (4 health) $90K
6 71662 Pickens 33 F 59 (21 health)

Recommended Buyer Guides for Desha County

Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.

Overview

Desha County in Arkansas covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (75/100).

3 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 27 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Arkansas water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Desha County?
Desha County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 6 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Desha County?
Desha County is served by 13 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Desha County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Desha County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $892 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Desha County?
The median home build year in Desha County is 1972. 69.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Desha County compare to Arkansas?
Desha County has an average water safety score of 75/100, which is below the Arkansas state average of 76/100.

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