WaterVerge

Is Whitesboro, OK Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded D, with 17 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: OK3004006
Overall Score
49 / 100
Violations
17 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased surface water
#240 of 358 in Oklahoma Top 85% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
DGRADE
Water Quality Grade
49/100
waterverge.com
D 49/100

Whitesboro, OK — Water Quality Report

Whitesboro's drinking water received a grade of D (49 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,643 residents using purchased surface water.

Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 132 violations on record, including 63 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved.

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

What to know about Whitesboro's water

Whitesboro ranks #240 out of 358 cities in Oklahoma for water quality, placing it below average in the state.

The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection.

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

The system has seen 30 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
49 out of 100 Grade D
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
0/45
F
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
4/5
B
Water source: Purchased surface water.
Water Safety

Is Whitesboro, OK water safe to drink?

Concerns Identified

Whitesboro's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D (49/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,643 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).

17
Active Violations
0.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Whitesboro

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Whitesboro's water quality assessment. Grade: D (49/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Chlorine.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: TTHM.

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Whitesboro's water system has 132 total violations on record, including 63 health-based violations. 17 remain unresolved. 30 violations were issued in the last 5 years.

MCLMRRPTTTOther
Most recent violations:
Jul 2025 TTHM Resolved
May 2025 Chlorine Resolved
Apr 2025 TTHM Resolved
Jan 2025 TTHM Resolved
Jan 2025 Vinyl chloride Resolved

Where does Whitesboro's water come from?

Whitesboro's drinking water comes from surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 1,643 people. Surface water sources are more susceptible to contamination from runoff, industrial discharge, and algal blooms, requiring extensive treatment.

What Whitesboro residents can do

Install a water filter

Recommended: NSF-certified water filter. This addresses the specific contaminants found in Whitesboro's water.

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.

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
0.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 0% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

132
Total violations
63
Health-based
17
Active / unresolved
Jul 2025
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

132 Total
17 Active
63 Health-based
115 Resolved
36 SNC
Violations by category
Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule
69
Total Coliform Rule
39
Volatile Organic Chemicals
16
Consumer Confidence Rule
4
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
2
Dec 2024 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Treatment Technique
Health-Based Health 0
Dec 2023 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Oct 2022 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jun 2022 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Apr 2019 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Dec 2017 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2017 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jul 2016 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jun 2016 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jul 2015 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Jun 2015 Active
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jun 2015 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Apr 2015 Active
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Apr 2015 Active
TTHM
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jul 2025 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 2025
May 2025 Resolved
Chlorine
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved May 2025
Apr 2025 Resolved
TTHM
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2025
Showing 20 of 132 violations
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D1 — moderate drought

Le Flore County is currently in D1 (moderate 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.

15.7%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
2
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

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

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.0 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 0.0 ppb from 1993 (0.0 ppb) to 2021 (0.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Surface Water
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
1,643
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Whitesboro's water comes from

Purchased Surface Water

Whitesboro's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,643 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Whitesboro

System Name PWSID Population Source
LEFLORE CO. RWD #3 OK3004006 1,643 SWP
Regional Comparison

How Whitesboro compares

Full Oklahoma rankings →

Whitesboro's score of 49/100 is on par with the average of 45/100 among major Oklahoma cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Whitesboro (this city)
49
Tulsa
48.5
Norman
38.4
Lawton
44.4
Oklahoma avg
45
City Profile

About Whitesboro, OK

Economic Profile
$27,396
Median Income
$533/mo
Median Rent
17%
Unemployment
Community
53.6
Median Age
17
People / sq mi
11.6%
College Educated
58%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Whitesboro, OK tap water safe to drink?

Whitesboro's water quality earned a grade of D (49/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #240 out of 358 cities tested in Oklahoma.

What contaminants are in Whitesboro's water?

Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 132 violations are on record.

How is Whitesboro'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 Whitesboro?

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

Where does Whitesboro's water come from?

Whitesboro's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,643 residents.

What health violations has Whitesboro's water system had?

Whitesboro has 63 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 17 violations remain unresolved.

How does Whitesboro's water compare to other cities?

Whitesboro ranks #240 out of 358 cities in Oklahoma (better than 33% of state cities) and #13359 out of 15744 cities nationally (15th percentile). The grade of D reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Whitesboro's small water system affect quality?

Whitesboro's system serves approximately 1,643 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 132 violations on record.