Arkansas Water Quality Report: 1,738 Violations Across 706 ZIPs
2,164 water systems · 706 ZIP codes · 1,738 violations · Updated 2026-06-11
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified: 2026-06-11
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 2,164 public water systems serving 706 ZIP codes in Arkansas. The state record shows 1,738 EPA violations, 606 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 | Mammoth Spring | D | 130 | 5 | 2,749 | Details → |
| 2 | Fayetteville | A | 92 | 14 | 114,403 | Details → |
| 3 | Pickens | F | 59 | 2 | 81 | Details → |
| 4 | Hope | B | 54 | 8 | 14,907 | Details → |
| 5 | Crawfordsville | B | 54 | 8 | 1,268 | Details → |
| 6 | Helena | C | 49 | 5 | 3,971 | Details → |
| 7 | Siloam Springs | D | 48 | 5 | 23,703 | Details → |
| 8 | Fouke | C | 39 | 3 | 4,850 | Details → |
| 9 | Compton | C | 38 | 3 | 351 | Details → |
| 10 | Humphrey | B | 37 | 2 | 862 | Details → |
Cities with Best Water Quality in Arkansas
| # | City | Grade | Score | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walcott | A | 99/100 | 1 | 7,095 |
| 2 | Atkins | A | 99/100 | 4 | 5,980 |
| 3 | Rison | A | 99/100 | 6 | 4,889 |
| 4 | Lamar | A | 99/100 | 6 | 3,874 |
| 5 | Gosnell | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,083 |
| 6 | Cedarville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 1,804 |
| 7 | Forrest City | A | 97/100 | 6 | 16,514 |
| 8 | Searcy | A | 96/100 | 10 | 35,523 |
| 9 | Fort Smith | A | 95/100 | 5 | 94,001 |
| 10 | Bryant | A | 95/100 | 7 | 18,350 |
Most Common Contaminants in Arkansas
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 335 | 45 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 269 | 76 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 200 | 47 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 90 | 72 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 50 | 40 | Yes |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 36 | 7 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 32 | 25 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 24 | 8 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 23 | 9 | Yes |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 12 | 11 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Arkansas has 2,164 community water systems serving approximately 4,193,998 people across 706 ZIP codes. These systems have accumulated 1,738 EPA violations, including 606 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 35% 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 | 606 | 34.9% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 1,132 | 65.1% |
| Total | 1,738 | 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 | Grade | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mammoth Spring | D | 130 | 5 | 2,749 |
| 2 | Fayetteville | A | 92 | 14 | 114,403 |
| 3 | Pickens | F | 59 | 2 | 81 |
| 4 | Hope | B | 54 | 8 | 14,907 |
| 5 | Crawfordsville | B | 54 | 8 | 1,268 |
| 6 | Helena | C | 49 | 5 | 3,971 |
| 7 | Siloam Springs | D | 48 | 5 | 23,703 |
| 8 | Fouke | C | 39 | 3 | 4,850 |
| 9 | Compton | C | 38 | 3 | 351 |
| 10 | Humphrey | B | 37 | 2 | 862 |
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.
Cities with Best Water Quality
These Arkansas cities have monitored water systems graded A with no recorded EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Grade | Score | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walcott | A | 99/100 | 1 | 7,095 |
| 2 | Atkins | A | 99/100 | 4 | 5,980 |
| 3 | Rison | A | 99/100 | 6 | 4,889 |
| 4 | Lamar | A | 99/100 | 6 | 3,874 |
| 5 | Gosnell | A | 99/100 | 1 | 3,083 |
| 6 | Cedarville | A | 99/100 | 1 | 1,804 |
| 7 | Forrest City | A | 97/100 | 6 | 16,514 |
| 8 | Searcy | A | 96/100 | 10 | 35,523 |
| 9 | Fort Smith | A | 95/100 | 5 | 94,001 |
| 10 | Bryant | A | 95/100 | 7 | 18,350 |
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Arkansas:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 212 | 212 |
| 2022 | 145 | 145 |
| 2023 | 407 | 407 |
| 2024 | 437 | 437 |
| 2025 | 354 | 354 |
Violations have increased from 212 in 2021 to 354 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 335 | 45 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 269 | 76 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 200 | 47 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 90 | 72 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 50 | 40 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 32 | 25 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 24 | 8 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 23 | 9 | Yes |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 12 | 11 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 6 | 5 | Yes |
How to Check Your Water in Arkansas
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water system data including contaminant levels, violation history, and safety scores
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 3,478 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 606 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 2,164 community water systems with 1,738 recorded EPA violations, including 606 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 1,738 total EPA violations across 706 ZIP codes. 606 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?
Mammoth Spring, AR has the most EPA violations among major cities in Arkansas with 130 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?
Walcott, AR ranks among the best for water quality in Arkansas with a grade of A. Multiple cities in Arkansas maintain strong EPA compliance records.
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.