Water System Report MS

University of Mississippi

EPA ID: MS0360015 · 26,874 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Water monitoring history at University of Mississippi shows a clean slate — EPA tracking over the past five years turned up no violations, and 26,874 residents continue to receive fully compliant service.

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

26,874
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for University of Mississippi Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$64,423
Median Household Income
50,383
Service Area Population
30%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
14%
Pre-1986 Housing

The University of Mississippi serves a community with a median household income of $64,423 and an estimated 50,383 residents across its service area.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

University of Mississippi'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 1% of homes in Lafayette County, Mississippi rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

33 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
37 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 47% 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. 17 detections recorded. 5 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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 Mississippi

Bear Creek W/a-west
26,677 people
B 6 violations
City of Pearl
27,115 people
B 11 violations
City of Ocean Springs
26,168 people
0 violations
City of Flowood
27,997 people
B 3 violations
A 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $900
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $1,500

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 $1,500 (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

University of Mississippi (EPA ID: MS0360015) is a community water system in Mississippi that serves approximately 26,874 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

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.

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 MS 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 University of Mississippi (MS0360015) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of Mississippi water safe to drink?

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

How many people does University of Mississippi serve?

University of Mississippi serves approximately 26,874 people across 2 ZIP codes in Mississippi.

Where does University of Mississippi get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
174
Detections
23
Latest sample
9/10/2025
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 11.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 11.4 ppt
PFBA 8.2 ppt
PFHxA 7.8 ppt
PFHxS 5.6 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFOA 5.5 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal MCL
PFBS 5.2 ppt

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

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
2
Unknown Material
160
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 2022-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 26,874
Reported to Mississippi

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

Should I use a water filter?
University of Mississippi meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does University of Mississippi serve?
University of Mississippi serves approximately 26,874 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is University of Mississippi's water source?
University of Mississippi draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of University of Mississippi's service area?
The University of Mississippi service area has a median household income of $64,423. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does University of Mississippi get its water?
University of Mississippi'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.
Home Water Systems Mississippi University of Mississippi

Get safety alerts for University of Mississippi, Mississippi

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.