PFAS Contamination

PFAS in Mississippi Drinking Water

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

142

Cities Tested

Exceeds Limit

% Exceeds Limit

0.9 compounds

State Avg

▼ 17% vs national

vs National

289

Health Violations

Analysis

PFAS in Mississippi: what the data shows

Mississippi has 142 cities with PFAS monitoring data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program. PFAS ("forever chemicals") were detected in 109 of those cities (77%), with some cities exceeding the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ppt. The state average is better than the national average. 6 cities exceed 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)

Mississippi

6 of 142 cities

← ▼ 17% below national rate (better)

National avg

21%

1662 of 7853 cities

City Map

PFAS data across Mississippi

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 Mississippi

Highest PFAS levels (compounds)

All Cities

All Mississippi cities ranked by pfas level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Oxford	9 compounds	Yes	22	F
2	Corinth	6 compounds	Yes	9	D
3	Holly Springs	3 compounds	Yes	3	A-
4	Biloxi	2 compounds	Yes	10	D
5	Brookhaven	2 compounds	No	6	D+
6	Natchez	2 compounds	No	11	B+
7	Magee	2 compounds	Yes	4	D+
8	Hattiesburg	1 compounds	No	25	D
9	Gulfport	1 compounds	No	8	D+
10	Canton	1 compounds	No	45	D
11	Meridian	1 compounds	No	5	D+
12	Brandon	1 compounds	No	27	D+
13	Vicksburg	1 compounds	No	53	D
14	Columbus	1 compounds	No	15	D+
15	Ocean Springs	1 compounds	No	4	D+
16	Starkville	1 compounds	No	16	D
17	Laurel	1 compounds	No	5	D+
18	Ridgeland	1 compounds	No	21	D+
19	Greenville	1 compounds	No	46	D
20	Pascagoula	1 compounds	No	9	D
21	Pearl	1 compounds	No	5	C
22	Flowood	1 compounds	No	3	B+
23	Grenada	1 compounds	No	38	F
24	Petal	1 compounds	Yes	12	D+
25	Greenwood	1 compounds	No	7	C
26	Pontotoc	1 compounds	No	22	D+
27	Mccomb	1 compounds	No	19	D
28	Clinton	1 compounds	No	12	B
29	Philadelphia	1 compounds	No	6	C-
30	Mcneill	1 compounds	No	5	D+
31	West Point	1 compounds	No	4	D
32	Gautier	1 compounds	No	4	A-
33	Florence	1 compounds	No	59	D+
34	Booneville	1 compounds	No	9	D+
35	Clarksdale	1 compounds	No	56	F
36	Long Beach	1 compounds	No	2	A-
37	Columbia	1 compounds	No	17	D
38	Cleveland	1 compounds	No	13	B
39	Saltillo	1 compounds	No	26	D+
40	Forest	1 compounds	No	47	D+
41	New Albany	1 compounds	No	2	D+
42	Madison	1 compounds	No	2	B
43	Washington	1 compounds	No	1	B-
44	Louisville	1 compounds	No	2	D+
45	Kiln	1 compounds	No	19	D
46	Batesville	1 compounds	No	16	D
47	Raymond	1 compounds	No	54	D+
48	Mississippi State	1 compounds	No	2	B+
49	Kosciusko	1 compounds	No	2	C
50	Ripley	1 compounds	No	5	D+
51	Crystal Springs	1 compounds	No	12	C-
52	Mount Olive	1 compounds	No	2	C
53	Waynesboro	1 compounds	No	72	D+
54	Ellisville	1 compounds	No	4	D+
55	Pass Christian	1 compounds	No	3	B
56	Diamondhead	1 compounds	No	10	D
57	Flora	1 compounds	No	43	D+
58	Walls	1 compounds	No	0	B
59	Bay St Louis	1 compounds	No	8	C+
60	Quitman	1 compounds	No	9	D+
61	Wiggins	1 compounds	No	4	D+
62	Bailey	1 compounds	No	5	A
63	Mooreville	1 compounds	No	4	D+
64	Houston	1 compounds	No	6	D
65	Lumberton	1 compounds	No	3	D+
66	Moselle	1 compounds	No	2	B-
67	Purvis	1 compounds	No	2	B
68	Bay Springs	1 compounds	No	4	D
69	Indianola	1 compounds	No	11	C+
70	Byhalia	1 compounds	No	5	C+
71	Pelahatchie	1 compounds	No	14	D
72	Eupora	1 compounds	No	5	D+
73	Leland	1 compounds	No	14	D+
74	Morton	1 compounds	No	23	D
75	Aberdeen	1 compounds	No	1	D+
76	Summit	1 compounds	No	10	C
77	Belzoni	1 compounds	No	9	D
78	Richland	1 compounds	No	4	B
79	Algoma	1 compounds	No	1	B-
80	Newton	1 compounds	No	1	C+
81	Waveland	1 compounds	No	2	C+
82	Shannon	1 compounds	No	11	D+
83	Sebastopol	1 compounds	No	1	B-
84	Sardis	1 compounds	No	2	C+
85	Toomsuba	1 compounds	No	4	B
86	Calhoun City	1 compounds	No	18	D+
87	Tremont	1 compounds	No	1	C+
88	Macon	1 compounds	No	4	C
89	Ruth	1 compounds	No	0	A-
90	Whitfield	1 compounds	No	0	B+
91	Fayette	1 compounds	No	22	C
92	Stennis Space Center	1 compounds	No	0	A
93	Buckatunna	1 compounds	No	3	C+
94	Port Gibson	1 compounds	No	16	D
95	Seminary	1 compounds	No	1	C
96	Walnut	1 compounds	No	5	C
97	Wheeler	1 compounds	No	4	B+
98	Sandersville	1 compounds	No	108	D+
99	Hamilton	1 compounds	No	2	B
100	Guntown	1 compounds	No	2	B+
101	Stringer	1 compounds	No	1	A
102	Union	1 compounds	No	2	A-
103	Columbus Afb	1 compounds	No	5	A
104	Enid	1 compounds	No	5	B+
105	Tutwiler	1 compounds	No	99	D
106	Union Church	1 compounds	No	5	B-
107	Renova	1 compounds	No	2	B-
108	Randolph	1 compounds	No	1	A-
109	Derma	1 compounds	No	1	A-
110	Jackson	0 compounds	No	75	D
111	Olive Branch	0 compounds	No	8	B-
112	Southaven	0 compounds	No	3	B
113	Tupelo	0 compounds	No	19	D
114	Hernando	0 compounds	No	11	D+
115	Horn Lake	0 compounds	No	5	B
116	Yazoo City	0 compounds	No	8	D+
117	Picayune	0 compounds	No	5	D+
118	Amory	0 compounds	No	2	C+
119	Lucedale	0 compounds	No	4	D+
120	Tylertown	0 compounds	No	0	B+
121	Carthage	0 compounds	No	14	D
122	Iuka	0 compounds	No	10	C+
123	D'Iberville	0 compounds	No	5	C+
124	Moss Point	0 compounds	No	8	B
125	Fulton	0 compounds	No	4	B
126	Senatobia	0 compounds	No	18	D
127	Tunica	0 compounds	No	9	C
128	Water Valley	0 compounds	No	5	D+
129	Winona	0 compounds	No	12	D
130	Nettleton	0 compounds	No	7	D+
131	Richton	0 compounds	No	14	D+
132	Nesbit	0 compounds	No	7	C
133	Caledonia	0 compounds	No	0	A-
134	Carriere	0 compounds	No	0	A-
135	Plantersville	0 compounds	No	7	B-
136	Como	0 compounds	No	9	D
137	Poplarville	0 compounds	No	1	B+
138	Utica	0 compounds	No	5	D+
139	Hazlehurst	0 compounds	No	3	A-
140	Jayess	0 compounds	No	0	A
141	Alcorn State	0 compounds	No	1	A-
142	Pattison	0 compounds	No	3	B+

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about pfas in Mississippi

Does Mississippi tap water contain PFAS?

PFAS were detected in 109 of 142 Mississippi cities tested under EPA's UCMR 5 program. 6 cities exceed the 2024 EPA MCL of 4 ppt for individual PFAS compounds.

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

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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