Water System Report AR

Cotter Waterworks

EPA ID: AR0000028 · 1,233 people served · 4 ZIP codes

In every reporting cycle over the past five years, Cotter Waterworks has come through without a single EPA violation — a consistent performance across the full service population of approximately 1,233 residents that reflects both well-maintained infrastructure and reliable operational oversight.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 72
Avg Safety Score
1,233
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$169K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Cotter Waterworks Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$48,182
Median Household Income
35,325
Service Area Population
78%
Disadvantaged Population
70th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
59%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Cotter Waterworks serves a community with a median household income of $48,182 and an estimated 35,325 residents across its service area. Approximately 59% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 78% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Cotter Waterworks's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Baxter County, Arkansas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
28 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 61% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded.

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Arkansas

Elaine Waterworks
1,233 people
B 9 violations
Hartman Waterworks
1,230 people
A 0 violations
0 violations
Oxford Waterworks
1,253 people
C 0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Flood Insurance $300
Total Estimated Cost $1,200

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,200 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Cotter Waterworks (EPA ID: AR0000028) is a community water system in Arkansas that serves approximately 1,233 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (72/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by AR or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cotter Waterworks (AR0000028) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cotter Waterworks water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Cotter Waterworks has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Cotter Waterworks serve?

Cotter Waterworks serves approximately 1,233 people across 4 ZIP codes in Arkansas.

Where does Cotter Waterworks get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
207
Unknown Material
298
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2002-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,233
Reported to Arkansas

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Cotter Waterworks safe to drink?
Cotter Waterworks earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Cotter Waterworks meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Cotter Waterworks serve?
Cotter Waterworks serves approximately 1,233 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is Cotter Waterworks's water source?
Cotter Waterworks draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Cotter Waterworks's service area?
The Cotter Waterworks service area has a median household income of $48,182. EPA EJScreen data classifies 78% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Cotter Waterworks get its water?
Cotter Waterworks's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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