PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Arkansas Drinking Water

Ranked by number of PFAS compounds detected · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

137

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

0.4 compounds

State Avg

▼ 20% vs national

vs National

311

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Arkansas: what the data shows

Arkansas has 137 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 48 of those cities (35%), with very few cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is better than the national average. 1 city exceeds the EPA MCL for at least one PFAS compound. PFAS are linked to cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues. The 2024 EPA rule requires water systems exceeding the MCL to notify customers and reduce levels by 2029. PFAS data comes from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR 5), which required large water systems to test for 29 PFAS compounds between 2023–2025. Not all systems have completed testing — cities without data may still have PFAS present.

Comparison

Cities exceeding EPA MCL (4 ppt each)

Arkansas

1 of 137 cities

← ▼ 20% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1662 of 7853 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Arkansas

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. PFAS-tested cities are shown; those exceeding the 4 ppt EPA MCL appear in red. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by pfas level in Arkansas

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Arkansas cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Siloam Springs	3 compounds	No	49	F
2	Dardanelle	3 compounds	Yes	36	C+
3	Beebe	2 compounds	No	1	A-
4	Harrisburg	2 compounds	No	0	B+
5	Little Rock	1 compounds	No	44	C+
6	Pine Bluff	1 compounds	No	5	A-
7	Bentonville	1 compounds	No	2	A-
8	Cabot	1 compounds	No	6	A
9	Paragould	1 compounds	No	6	A
10	El Dorado	1 compounds	No	77	D
11	West Memphis	1 compounds	No	12	A
12	Stuttgart	1 compounds	No	15	A-
13	Austin	1 compounds	No	1	B
14	Blytheville	1 compounds	No	8	C
15	Mabelvale	1 compounds	No	0	A-
16	Pocahontas	1 compounds	No	23	A-
17	Sheridan	1 compounds	No	0	A
18	Magnolia	1 compounds	No	32	C+
19	Hope	1 compounds	No	57	F
20	Marion	1 compounds	No	11	C
21	Crossett	1 compounds	No	2	A-
22	Nashville	1 compounds	No	43	B-
23	Forrest City	1 compounds	No	4	A
24	Rison	1 compounds	No	9	A-
25	Star City	1 compounds	No	19	A
26	Hickory Ridge	1 compounds	No	14	B
27	Marianna	1 compounds	No	56	F
28	Helena	1 compounds	No	36	F
29	Warren	1 compounds	No	4	A
30	Osceola	1 compounds	No	3	C+
31	Mc Dougal	1 compounds	No	14	A
32	Grady	1 compounds	No	13	C+
33	Hamburg	1 compounds	No	2	A-
34	Fox	1 compounds	No	1	A
35	Piggott	1 compounds	No	29	C+
36	Fordyce	1 compounds	No	10	A-
37	Ashdown	1 compounds	No	3	A-
38	Lakeview	1 compounds	No	2	A
39	Caraway	1 compounds	No	2	A
40	Brinkley	1 compounds	No	49	F
41	Manila	1 compounds	No	3	A-
42	Flippin	1 compounds	No	1	A
43	Poplar Grove	1 compounds	No	2	A+
44	Donaldson	1 compounds	No	0	A
45	Corning	1 compounds	No	8	A-
46	Tuckerman	1 compounds	No	2	B-
47	Decatur	1 compounds	No	4	A
48	Marvell	1 compounds	No	9	D+
49	Fayetteville	0 compounds	No	17	D
50	Springdale	0 compounds	No	2	B
51	Fort Smith	0 compounds	No	19	D
52	Hot Springs	0 compounds	No	43	B+
53	Rogers	0 compounds	No	17	B-
54	Jonesboro	0 compounds	No	2	A+
55	Conway	0 compounds	No	14	B
56	Benton	0 compounds	No	10	A
57	Searcy	0 compounds	No	2	A-
58	Jacksonville	0 compounds	No	7	A+
59	Bella Vista	0 compounds	No	13	B+
60	Russellville	0 compounds	No	25	C-
61	Van Buren	0 compounds	No	16	C+
62	Texarkana	0 compounds	No	25	B+
63	Malvern	0 compounds	No	19	B+
64	Centerton	0 compounds	No	4	A
65	Batesville	0 compounds	No	65	D+
66	Harrison	0 compounds	No	14	B+
67	Greenwood	0 compounds	No	93	D+
68	Mountain Home	0 compounds	No	22	B+
69	Vilonia	0 compounds	No	2	A
70	Heber Springs	0 compounds	No	2	A
71	Russelville	0 compounds	No	11	A-
72	Farmington	0 compounds	No	15	B+
73	Bryant	0 compounds	No	6	A+
74	Camden	0 compounds	No	126	D
75	Greers Ferry	0 compounds	No	6	A
76	Morrilton	0 compounds	No	7	B+
77	Clarksville	0 compounds	No	5	B+
78	Hot Springs Village	0 compounds	No	0	A+
79	Arkadelphia	0 compounds	No	5	B+
80	Huntsville	0 compounds	No	7	A+
81	Clinton	0 compounds	No	23	B+
82	Alma	0 compounds	No	16	A-
83	Monticello	0 compounds	No	31	C-
84	Greenbrier	0 compounds	No	21	A
85	Ward	0 compounds	No	3	C+
86	Ozark	0 compounds	No	16	A-
87	Dequeen	0 compounds	No	17	A-
88	Pea Ridge	0 compounds	No	0	A
89	Elkins	0 compounds	No	8	A
90	Trumann	0 compounds	No	4	A+
91	Prairie Grove	0 compounds	No	11	A-
92	Mena	0 compounds	No	13	A
93	Wynne	0 compounds	No	10	B-
94	Cedarville	0 compounds	No	0	A+
95	Judsonia	0 compounds	No	12	B
96	Mountain View	0 compounds	No	7	A+
97	Gentry	0 compounds	No	4	A
98	Paris	0 compounds	No	23	B
99	Dumas	0 compounds	No	9	B-
100	Mayflower	0 compounds	No	25	A
101	Tontitown	0 compounds	No	7	A
102	Walcott	0 compounds	No	3	A
103	Berryville	0 compounds	No	7	A-
104	Avoca	0 compounds	No	2	A
105	Lincoln	0 compounds	No	5	A+
106	Tumbling Shoals	0 compounds	No	1	A-
107	Mcgehee	0 compounds	No	24	C-
108	Green Forest	0 compounds	No	1	A+
109	Newport	0 compounds	No	0	A+
110	Walnut Ridge	0 compounds	No	2	A-
111	Foreman	0 compounds	No	60	D+
112	Cave Springs	0 compounds	No	13	B-
113	Barling	0 compounds	No	0	A
114	Booneville	0 compounds	No	11	A
115	Higginson	0 compounds	No	3	A-
116	Wooster	0 compounds	No	13	B
117	Gravette	0 compounds	No	0	A
118	Lamar	0 compounds	No	0	A
119	Cherokee Village	0 compounds	No	0	A-
120	Eureka Springs	0 compounds	No	33	D
121	Holiday Island	0 compounds	No	12	A+
122	Prescott	0 compounds	No	15	A
123	Atkins	0 compounds	No	17	A-
124	Lonoke	0 compounds	No	6	C
125	Des Arc	0 compounds	No	11	A-
126	Melbourne	0 compounds	No	9	A+
127	Pottsville	0 compounds	No	1	B+
128	Haskell	0 compounds	No	6	A-
129	Shannon Hills	0 compounds	No	1	A+
130	Lavaca	0 compounds	No	1	A+
131	Waldron	0 compounds	No	38	A
132	Strong	0 compounds	No	64	D
133	Guy	0 compounds	No	5	A
134	Mc Crory	0 compounds	No	1	A-
135	Hartman	0 compounds	No	1	A-
136	Hartford	0 compounds	No	15	B
137	Salesville	0 compounds	No	5	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Arkansas

Does Arkansas tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 48 of 137 Arkansas cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. 1 city exceeds the 2024 EPA MCL of 4 ppt for individual PFAS compounds.

How can I remove PFAS from my drinking water in Arkansas?

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective at removing PFAS, typically removing 90%+ of compounds. High-quality activated carbon block filters (NSF 58-certified for RO, or NSF 53 for solid carbon) also provide significant reduction. Standard pitcher filters vary widely in PFAS removal.

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