COUNTY REPORT AR

Newton County, Arkansas

13 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

EPA monitoring reports for Newton County cover 13 ZIP codes and tell a largely reassuring story — compliance rates are high and health-based violations are far below the national norm.

How Newton County Compares

Newton County71/100
Arkansas avg76/100
National avg68/100

How Newton County Compares

B
County Grade
71/100
Avg Safety Score
13
ZIP Codes
16
Water Systems

Newton County scores 5 points below the Arkansas state average (76/100) and 3 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
71
Avg Safety Score
13
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 72856 (88/100)
Lowest ZIP: 72624 (55/100)
$159K
Median Home Value
$2,240
Avg Remediation (141% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Newton 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: 16.5 (asthma 10.3%, diabetes 15.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $740, driven primarily by wildfire

Infrastructure: 0.349% avg pipe failure probability, 23% of ZIPs at high risk

55.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

↑ Worsening trend

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

2021
18 (18 health)
2022
6 (6 health)
2023
35 (35 health)
2024
63 (63 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 63 violations. Past 5 years: 122 total (122 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.

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

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.3% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.1% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 38.9% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1976
Median Build Year
55.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
35%
Pipe Failure Probability
23%
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: $740

Wildfire $300/yr
Energy Code Gap $194/yr
Water / Lead $185/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

4,449 housing units in Newton County

Pre-1940 12%
1940–1959 8%
1960–1979 27%
1980–1999 29%
2000+ 24%

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 Newton County

$159K
Median Home Value
$2,240
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Newton 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 Newton County residents

Asthma 10.3% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 15.1% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 38.9% (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 Newton County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Compton Waterworks 990 50
2 WESTERN GROVE MUNICIPAL WATER 900 50
3 EAST NEWTON COUNTY WATER ASSN 1,920 46
4 Nail-swain Water Association 970 42
5 Deer Water Association 938 42

16 total water systems serve Newton County.

All ZIP Codes in Newton County

13 ZIP codes tracked in Newton County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 72856 Pelsor 88 A 0 $219K
2 72685 Western Grove 86 A 2 $185K
3 72683 Vendor 84 B 2 $152K
4 72628 Deer 80 B 32 (7 health) $155K
5 72640 Hasty 66 C 0 $159K
6 72648 Marble Falls 66 C 0 $200K
7 72655 Mount Judea 66 C 0 $107K
8 72666 Parthenon 66 C 0 $115K
9 72670 Ponca 66 C 0
10 72742 Kingston 66 C 0
11 72752 Pettigrew 66 C 0 $121K
12 72641 Jasper 64 C 10 $201K
13 72624 Compton 55 C 38 (24 health) $214K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Newton County

While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.

Overview

Newton County in Arkansas covers 13 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (71/100).

5 of 13 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 31 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Arkansas water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Newton County?
Newton County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 13 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Newton County?
Newton County is served by 16 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 13 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Newton County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Newton County is wildfire. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $740 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Newton County?
The median home build year in Newton County is 1976. 55.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Newton County compare to Arkansas?
Newton County has an average water safety score of 71/100, which is below the Arkansas state average of 76/100.

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