WaterVerge

Is Hazen, AR Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 2 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

1K residents served 1 water system PWSID: AR0000452
Overall Score
88.5 / 100
Violations
2 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#125 of 345 in Arkansas Top 22% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
88.5/100
waterverge.com
A- 88.5/100

Hazen, AR — Water Quality Report

Hazen's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.5 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,301 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 4 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Hazen's water

Hazen ranks #125 out of 345 cities in Arkansas for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state.

Hazen relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Hazen may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
88.5 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.5/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
19/20
A
Lead at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
3/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Hazen, AR water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Hazen's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (88.5/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,301 residents using groundwater (wells).

2
Active Violations
3.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
5 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Hazen

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Hazen's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (88.5/100).

Disaster
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4873). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
HURRICANE LAURA

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3541). Hurricane event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Hazen's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 3.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Hazen's water system has 4 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

OtherMR
Most recent violations:
Jul 2010 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Mar 2001 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Sep 1997 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Prairie County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1969. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4873
HURRICANE LAURA
Hurricane FEMA DR-3541
SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE GUSTAV
Hurricane FEMA DR-1793

Where does Hazen's water come from?

Hazen's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,301 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Hazen residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

Hazen's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
3.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 20% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

4
Total violations
0
Health-based
2
Active / unresolved
Jul 2010
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

4 Total
2 Active
0 Health-based
2 Resolved
Violations by category
Total Coliform Rule
2
Consumer Confidence Rule
1
Jul 2010 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Mar 2001 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Mar 2001
Sep 1997 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Sep 1997
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D3 — extreme drought

Prairie County is currently in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

14
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
16.3%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
14
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

5
Declared disasters
May 2025
Most recent
Hurricane
Most common type

Prairie County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1969. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

May 2025
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4873
Aug 2020
HURRICANE LAURA
Hurricane FEMA #3541
Sep 2008
SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE GUSTAV
Hurricane FEMA #1793
Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3215
Feb 1969
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #254

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 3.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 2.0 ppb from 1992 (5.0 ppb) to 2002 (3.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,301
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Hazen's water comes from

Groundwater

Hazen's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,301 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Hazen

System Name PWSID Population Source
HAZEN WATERWORKS AR0000452 1,301 GW
Regional Comparison

How Hazen compares

Full Arkansas rankings →

Hazen's score of 88.5/100 is above the average of 75/100 among major Arkansas cities. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities.

Hazen (this city)
88.5
Springdale
79.1
Fort Smith
45.5
Arkansas avg
75
City Profile

About Hazen, AR

Economic Profile
$47,209
Median Income
$115,462
Median Home Value
$913/mo
Median Rent
3.3%
Unemployment
Community
43.3
Median Age
191
People / sq mi
21.6%
College Educated
75.7%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Hazen, AR tap water safe to drink?

Hazen's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.5/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #125 out of 345 cities tested in Arkansas.

What contaminants are in Hazen's water?

Lead was measured at 3.0 ppb (90th percentile). 4 violations are on record.

How is Hazen's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Hazen?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Hazen's water come from?

Hazen's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,301 residents.

Is Hazen's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Hazen uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 4 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Hazen's water compare to other cities?

Hazen ranks #125 out of 345 cities in Arkansas (better than 64% of state cities) and #3430 out of 15744 cities nationally (78th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Hazen's small water system affect quality?

Hazen's system serves approximately 1,301 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 4 violations on record.