Rankin County, Mississippi: drinking water report. Rankin County east of Jackson has about 157,000 residents in growing suburban communities like Brandon
Rankin County east of Jackson has about 157,000 residents in growing suburban communities like Brandon and Pearl. Most water comes from the Cockfield and Sparta aquifers – deep, confined groundwater sources that have historically produced high-quality water. The county's proximity to Jackson, where water infrastructure has been in crisis, creates an interesting contrast – Rankin County's systems function well, while the capital city next door struggles.
Rankin County's deep aquifer supply is naturally protected from surface contamination by thick clay confining layers. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health's 2024 drinking water report, all public water systems in the county met federal standards for regulated contaminants. The deep wells produce naturally soft, low-mineral water that requires minimal treatment.
However, the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring detected low-level PFAS in one Rankin County water system. The former Key Field Air National Guard Base in nearby Meridian and industrial activities in the Jackson metro area may contribute diffuse PFAS to the regional groundwater system. A 2024 MDEQ investigation found PFAS at 5 ppt in one monitoring well – below federal MCLs but above detection limits.
Rankin County benefits from well-managed water systems drawing from naturally protected deep aquifers. The risk profile here is lower than many counties covered in our data, but awareness of emerging contaminants like PFAS remains relevant.
Check your water for the latest monitoring data. For the low-level PFAS typical of deep aquifer systems, a reverse osmosis unit at the kitchen tap provides peace of mind. Our water filter guide covers systems for a range of contamination levels. Get your detailed report for your area, and visit our Mississippi page for statewide context.
Drinking water is one exposure route. These federal datasets also cover Rankin County, MS.
The EPA places Rankin County, MS in Zone 3 - the EPA's lowest-risk category, with a predicted average indoor radon level below 2 pCi/L. Zone maps predict an area's radon potential from geology and existing indoor readings; they say nothing about a specific house. Testing is the only way to know your own level.
29% of homes in Rankin County, MS were built before 1980, and 3% before 1950. Residential lead paint was banned in 1978, so housing age is the strongest available proxy for lead-paint exposure. This describes the county's housing stock, not any one home.
Modelled annual fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) in Rankin County, MS averages 9.1 µg/m³, above the EPA's annual standard of 9 µg/m³. These are CDC modelled county estimates rather than readings from a specific monitor.
How radon zones work · Air quality by county · Lead exposure guide