Free Arkansas water report: PFAS & lead levels for every water system, worst-affected cities, and EPA violations. Check your ZIP.
Arkansas sits in the heart of the Mississippi River basin, and that geography shapes its water quality story. The state's approximately 3.0 million residents draw drinking water from a mix of surface water and groundwater, with the Alluvial Aquifer beneath the Mississippi Delta region and the Ozark and Springfield Plateau aquifers in the northwest serving as the primary groundwater sources. Surface water comes from the Arkansas River, the White River, Beaver Lake, Greers Ferry Lake, and numerous smaller reservoirs scattered across the state.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) oversees drinking water quality for about 680 public water systems. Arkansas is an agricultural state – the top rice producer in the nation and a major poultry state – and agricultural runoff is the most widespread water quality challenge. Nitrates, pesticides, and sediment from farming operations affect both surface and groundwater sources, particularly in the Delta region where intensive agriculture and aquifer pumping have been ongoing for decades.
The Alluvial Aquifer, which underlies eastern Arkansas, has been declining due to heavy irrigation withdrawals. According to the USGS, water levels in parts of the aquifer have dropped more than 100 feet since monitoring began, raising concerns about both supply sustainability and the concentration of contaminants in a shrinking resource.
Arkansas has conducted less PFAS testing than many states, and the available data is correspondingly sparse. The EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program has brought the first systematic look at PFAS across the state's larger public water systems, but results are still emerging.
What testing has occurred suggests that Arkansas does not face the same scale of PFAS contamination as heavily industrialized or military-dense states. However, absence of data is not evidence of absence. The state has significant agricultural chemical use, several industrial facilities that may have used PFAS-containing products, and military installations that used AFFF.
Arkansas does not have state-specific PFAS MCLs. The state follows federal EPA standards, meaning the 2024 federal MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS now apply to public water systems. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (ADEE) has not announced plans to adopt stricter state-level thresholds.
The limited testing creates an information gap that is particularly concerning for rural communities on small water systems or private wells. Without proactive testing, contamination can persist undetected.
Arkansas has several military installations that are potential PFAS sources. Little Rock Air Force Base, located in Jacksonville just north of the state capital, has been flagged by the Department of Defense for PFAS investigation. AFFF was used in firefighting training at the base, and monitoring is underway to determine the extent of contamination in surrounding groundwater.
Fort Novosel (formerly Fort Rucker – though that installation is in Alabama, Arkansas hosts Pine Bluff Arsenal), Pine Bluff Arsenal in Jefferson County is another site of concern. The Arsenal has a history of chemical weapons production and destruction, and PFAS from firefighting foam use is being investigated as part of broader environmental assessments at the facility.
Chaffee Crossing, the former Fort Chaffee near Fort Smith, transitioned from active military use to a mixed-use redevelopment area. PFAS contamination from the base's operational years is under review. The Department of Defense has acknowledged PFAS use at these installations and included them in its nationwide investigation program. For the current list of confirmed sites, see our military bases page.
Arkansas's regulatory framework for PFAS is in its early stages. The state has participated in UCMR5 testing as required by federal law, but has not launched independent statewide PFAS monitoring programs or established state-specific standards.
ADH requires public water systems to issue annual Consumer Confidence Reports that cover federally regulated contaminants. PFAS compounds are now included in these reporting requirements under the 2024 federal MCLs. However, the state has not set notification levels, response levels, or advisory thresholds below the federal MCLs.
According to ADH data, approximately 200,000 Arkansas residents rely on private wells for their drinking water. These wells are not subject to PFAS testing requirements, and the state does not offer a public program for private well PFAS testing. For rural residents – particularly those near agricultural operations, industrial sites, or military installations – this gap leaves them without data on a class of contaminants that may be present.
For a primer on PFAS compounds, how they spread, and what the health research shows, see our PFAS guide.
Arkansas has less PFAS data available than most states, which makes individual initiative more important.
1. Check your area at the homepage to see whatever monitoring data is available for your ZIP code. We compile UCMR5 results, state reports, and utility data in one place. 2. If you are on a private well, particularly in the Delta region or near military installations, consider getting a certified PFAS lab test. Testing typically costs $200-400 and provides a baseline that state monitoring may not cover. 3. If contaminants are found, activated carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems are the most effective household treatments. Our water filter guide covers what works and what the certifications mean. 4. For a full picture, request a detailed water report for your address to see available historical data and how your area compares to the rest of the state.
Arkansas may not make national headlines for water quality issues, but the combination of agricultural contamination, limited PFAS testing, and aging rural infrastructure means that individual vigilance matters. Check your specific location to start with the data that is available.