Buffalo
EPA ID: OK2003003 · 1,200 people served · 1 ZIP code
Right now, Buffalo shows 7 EPA violations marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 1,200 residents while each finding awaits closure.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Buffalo Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Buffalo serves a community with a median household income of $72,266 and an estimated 1,587 residents across its service area. Approximately 88% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 50% 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?
Buffalo'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 3% of homes in Harper County, Oklahoma rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Buffalo compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Arsenic at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 13 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 12 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
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System Overview
Buffalo (EPA ID: OK2003003) is a community water system in Oklahoma that serves approximately 1,200 people from groundwater sources.
This system serves ZIP code 73834 in Buffalo.
Average Home Safety Score: B (81/100)
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 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Contaminant 4100 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 13 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 12 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | No |
| Contaminant 4100 | Other Violation | 2 | No |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73834 | 0.0011 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 OK or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 73834 — Buffalo
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Buffalo (OK2003003) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buffalo water safe to drink?
Buffalo has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Buffalo serve?
Buffalo serves approximately 1,200 people across 1 ZIP code in Oklahoma.
Where does Buffalo 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 BUFFALO 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: BUFFALO Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from BUFFALO 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.
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.
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
Buffalo (EPA ID: OK2003003) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.