Arkansas Water Quality Report: 4,260 Violations Across 512 ZIPs
1,612 water systems · 512 ZIP codes · 4,260 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 1,612 public water systems serving 512 ZIP codes in Arkansas. The state record shows 4,260 EPA violations, 1,888 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Arkansas
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Arkansas.
Cities with Most Violations in Arkansas
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | 110 | 5 | 10,088 | Details → | |
| 2 | Jasper | 100 | 5 | 2,063 | Details → | |
| 3 | Murfreesboro | 99 | 5 | 2,324 | Details → | |
| 4 | Marion | 95 | 5 | 16,434 | Details → | |
| 5 | Delight | 94 | 5 | 1,219 | Details → | |
| 6 | Dumas | 90 | 5 | 5,385 | Details → | |
| 7 | West Memphis | 86 | 5 | 24,182 | Details → | |
| 8 | Lexa | 76 | 5 | 1,935 | Details → | |
| 9 | Helena | 62 | 4 | 3,971 | Details → | |
| 10 | Crawfordsville | 62 | 5 | 1,268 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Arkansas
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 855 | 121 | Yes |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 674 | 80 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 505 | 123 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 253 | 150 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 184 | 72 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 132 | 43 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 90 | 68 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 90 | 62 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 81 | 18 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 34 | 30 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Arkansas has 1,612 community water systems represented across 512 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 3,341,905 people. The available records contain 4,260 EPA violations, including 1,888 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 44% of all violations in Arkansas. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 1,888 | 44.3% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 2,372 | 55.7% |
| Total | 4,260 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Arkansas have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | 110 | 5 | 10,088 |
| 2 | Jasper | 100 | 5 | 2,063 |
| 3 | Murfreesboro | 99 | 5 | 2,324 |
| 4 | Marion | 95 | 5 | 16,434 |
| 5 | Delight | 94 | 5 | 1,219 |
| 6 | Dumas | 90 | 5 | 5,385 |
| 7 | West Memphis | 86 | 5 | 24,182 |
| 8 | Lexa | 76 | 5 | 1,935 |
| 9 | Helena | 62 | 4 | 3,971 |
| 10 | Crawfordsville | 62 | 5 | 1,268 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Arkansas:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 172 | 172 |
| 2022 | 135 | 135 |
| 2023 | 355 | 355 |
| 2024 | 382 | 382 |
| 2025 | 330 | 330 |
Violations have increased from 172 in 2021 to 330 in 2025. This trend warrants monitoring and may reflect expanded testing requirements rather than worsening quality.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Arkansas water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 855 | 121 | Yes |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 674 | 80 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 505 | 123 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 253 | 150 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 184 | 72 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 132 | 43 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 90 | 68 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 90 | 62 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 81 | 18 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 34 | 30 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Arkansas
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 2,901 enforcement actions against water systems in Arkansas. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Arkansas has 1,888 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Arkansas?
Arkansas has 1,612 community water systems with 4,260 recorded EPA violations, including 1,888 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Arkansas have?
Arkansas has 4,260 total EPA violations across 512 ZIP codes. 1,888 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Arkansas has the worst water quality?
Nashville, AR has the most EPA violations among major cities in Arkansas with 110 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Arkansas has the best water quality?
Several cities in Arkansas maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Arkansas drinking water?
Arkansas water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.