West Helena Water Works
EPA ID: AR0000416 · 5,693 people served · 3 ZIP codes
West Helena Water Works's current EPA file includes 2 unresolved violations — every outstanding finding is documented in federal records for this utility, which supplies water to approximately 5,693 residents across its service territory.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 4 (2023) to 41 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for West Helena Water Works Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The West Helena Water Works serves a community with a median household income of $39,191 and an estimated 12,986 residents across its service area. Approximately 71% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 100% 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?
West Helena Water Works'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.
About 2% of homes in Phillips County, Arkansas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How West Helena Water Works compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead and Copper Rule at 18 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Chlorine residual at 27 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level). Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Contaminant 0700 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Chlorine residual was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Arkansas
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
West Helena Water Works (EPA ID: AR0000416) is a community water system in Arkansas that serves approximately 5,693 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
| March 1, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Chlorine residual | Health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 27 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 18 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 2 | Yes |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Chlorine (Residual Disinfectant) (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level))
Irritation & DBP formation at high levels; protective at normal treatment levels At-risk groups: people with asthma or chemical sensitivities, kidney dialysis patients (water must be dechlorinated).
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), KDF media filter, carbon block filter. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72342 | 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree 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 West Helena Water Works (AR0000416) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Helena Water Works water safe to drink?
West Helena Water Works has recorded 29 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does West Helena Water Works serve?
West Helena Water Works serves approximately 5,693 people across 3 ZIP codes in Arkansas.
Where does West Helena Water Works get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from West Helena Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: West Helena Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The Arkansas Department of Health has completed a Source Water Vulnerability Assessment for West Helena Water. The assessment summarizes the potential for contamination of our sources of drinking water and can be used as a basis for developing a source water protection plan. Based on the various criteria of the assessment, our water sources have been determined to have a medium susceptibility to contamination.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from West Helena Water Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
As part of our ongoing efforts to comply with federal regulations, we have developed a service line inventory to identify potential lead service lines within our system. A copy of the inventory is available from our office upon request.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
West Helena Water
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
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.
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.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
RTCR Site Plan/Recordkeeping2025-02-01 to 2025-02-28
Failed to take bacteriological samples in multiple sampling periods
-
RTCR Site Plan/Recordkeeping2025-11-01 to 2025-11-30
Failed to take bacteriological samples in multiple sampling periods
-
Source Water2025-07-01 to 2025-07-31
Failed to conduct monitoring of source water in drinking water production
-
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)2025-07-01 to 2025-07-01
Failure to provide annual water quality report to customers
Violations record from West Helena Water Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
West Helena Water Works (EPA ID: AR0000416) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.