Mississippi Water Quality Report: 7,755 Violations Across 376 ZIPs
1,374 water systems · 376 ZIP codes · 7,755 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 1,374 public water systems serving 376 ZIP codes in Mississippi. The state record shows 7,755 EPA violations, 858 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Mississippi
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 Mississippi.
Cities with Most Violations in Mississippi
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starkville | 184 | 5 | 42,782 | Details → | |
| 2 | Drew | 112 | 5 | 3,150 | Details → | |
| 3 | Mccomb | 108 | 5 | 19,767 | Details → | |
| 4 | Senatobia | 99 | 5 | 14,123 | Details → | |
| 5 | Magnolia | 99 | 5 | 8,522 | Details → | |
| 6 | Como | 99 | 5 | 5,531 | Details → | |
| 7 | Crenshaw | 99 | 5 | 1,610 | Details → | |
| 8 | Sardis | 98 | 5 | 6,258 | Details → | |
| 9 | Cascilla | 96 | 4 | 528 | Details → | |
| 10 | Holcomb | 92 | 5 | 1,741 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Mississippi
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,912 | 338 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,823 | 328 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 644 | 185 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 595 | 246 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 365 | 151 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 280 | 110 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 217 | 138 | No |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 126 | 54 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 126 | 54 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 126 | 54 | No |
Water Quality Overview
Mississippi has 1,374 community water systems represented across 376 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 2,938,564 people. The available records contain 7,755 EPA violations, including 858 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 11% of all violations in Mississippi. 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 | 858 | 11.1% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 6,897 | 88.9% |
| Total | 7,755 | 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 Mississippi have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Starkville | 184 | 5 | 42,782 |
| 2 | Drew | 112 | 5 | 3,150 |
| 3 | Mccomb | 108 | 5 | 19,767 |
| 4 | Senatobia | 99 | 5 | 14,123 |
| 5 | Magnolia | 99 | 5 | 8,522 |
| 6 | Como | 99 | 5 | 5,531 |
| 7 | Crenshaw | 99 | 5 | 1,610 |
| 8 | Sardis | 98 | 5 | 6,258 |
| 9 | Cascilla | 96 | 4 | 528 |
| 10 | Holcomb | 92 | 5 | 1,741 |
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 Mississippi:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 60 |
| 2022 | 100 | 100 |
| 2023 | 73 | 73 |
| 2024 | 592 | 592 |
| 2025 | 149 | 149 |
Violations have increased from 60 in 2021 to 149 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 Mississippi water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,912 | 338 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,823 | 328 | Yes |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 644 | 185 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 595 | 246 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 365 | 151 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 280 | 110 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 217 | 138 | No |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 126 | 54 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 126 | 54 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 126 | 54 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Mississippi
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 3,511 enforcement actions against water systems in Mississippi. 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. Mississippi has 858 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has 1,374 community water systems with 7,755 recorded EPA violations, including 858 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Mississippi have?
Mississippi has 7,755 total EPA violations across 376 ZIP codes. 858 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Mississippi has the worst water quality?
Starkville, MS has the most EPA violations among major cities in Mississippi with 184 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Mississippi has the best water quality?
Several cities in Mississippi maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Mississippi drinking water?
Mississippi 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.