PlainWater

HELENA WATER SEWER

PWS ID: AR0000419 · HELENA, Arkansas 72342

HELENA WATER SEWER serves 2,708 people in HELENA, Arkansas using Groundwater water sources. It has 129 recorded EPA violations, including 83 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (1 compound found).

Water Quality Snapshot: HELENA WATER SEWER

HELENA WATER SEWER is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 2,708 residents in HELENA, Arkansas (Phillips County) through 1,320 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 129 total violations for this system , of which 83 (64%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 3 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2024.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, recorded in 77 violations (TT, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 36 ppt. PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Arkansas, EPA tracks 1,016 public water systems serving 3,049,400 people, with 53,437 cumulative violations and 21,598 health-based violations on record. About 94% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 52.6 violations. HELENA WATER SEWER's 129 violations sit above the Arkansas average. Statewide, 57 of 172 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (33.1%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
2,708
Total Violations
129
Health-Based Violations
83
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,320
County
Phillips
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
6
Monitoring Violations
3
Treatment Tech Violations
77

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule TT 77 2024
Public Notice Other 33 2024
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 2009
Coliform (TCR) MR 3 1997
Coliform (TCR) Other 2 1995

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 2 of 60 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFTrDA 4/22/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 4/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 4/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 4/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 4/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 4/22/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 4/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 4/22/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 4/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 4/22/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 4/22/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 4/22/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 4/22/2024 36.0000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
PFHxA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 4/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 4/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 4/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 4/22/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 4/22/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 4/22/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 10/7/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 10/7/2024 13.0000 µg/L 9 µg/L Detected
PFPeS 10/7/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 10/7/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 10/7/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 10/7/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 10/7/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 10/7/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 10/7/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 10/7/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 10/7/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 10/7/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 10/7/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records — or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status — go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for HELENA WATER SEWER.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS — Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID AR0000419 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Arkansas Drinking Water Authority

Arkansas's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find AR regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2024 Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule TT 77 SDWIS / AR0000419 / 0400
2024 Public Notice Other 33 SDWIS / AR0000419 / 7500
2009 Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 SDWIS / AR0000419 / 3100
1997 Coliform (TCR) MR 3 SDWIS / AR0000419 / 3100
1995 Coliform (TCR) Other 2 SDWIS / AR0000419 / 3100

How HELENA WATER SEWER Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric HELENA WATER SEWER Arkansas avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 129 52.6 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 83 21.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 33.1% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 2,708 3,001 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,016 regulated public water systems in Arkansas.

Federal MCL reference — Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HELENA WATER SEWER water safe to drink?
HELENA WATER SEWER (PWS ID: AR0000419) has 129 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 2,708 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does HELENA WATER SEWER serve?
HELENA WATER SEWER serves 2,708 people in HELENA, Arkansas. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,320 service connections.
What type of violations does HELENA WATER SEWER have?
HELENA WATER SEWER has 129 total violations: 83 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 3 monitoring/reporting violations, and 77 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in HELENA WATER SEWER water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in HELENA WATER SEWER's water supply: lithium. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does HELENA WATER SEWER use?
HELENA WATER SEWER uses Groundwater as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Explore PlainWater

Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Related

Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial