Community Water System · PWS AR0000449
Des Arc Waterworks
Des Arc, Arkansas 72040 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 4,245 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 4,245
- People served
- 80
- EPA violations
- 53
- Health-based
- No PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 80 drinking-water violations at Des Arc Waterworks, 66% of them health-based - above the Arkansas per-system average.
- 80
- Total EPA violations on record
- 66%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 4,245
- People served by this system
- 0
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: Des Arc Waterworks
Des Arc Waterworks is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,245 residents in Des Arc, Arkansas (Prairie County) through 1,698 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 80 total violations for this system , of which 53 (66%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 16 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 48 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.
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. Statewide, 57 of 172 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (33.1%).
Des Arc Waterworks's 80 violations sit above the Arkansas average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 1,698
- County
- Prairie
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 53
- Monitoring Violations
- 16
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHM | MCL | 48 | 2018 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 13 | 2009 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 5 | 2004 |
| Coliform (TCR) | Other | 5 | 1998 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other | 4 | 1999 |
| E. COLI | MR | 3 | 2025 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 58 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFDoA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 4/12/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 4/12/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 4/12/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 4/12/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 4/12/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 4/12/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 4/12/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 4/12/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 4/12/2023 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 4/12/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 4/12/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 4/12/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 4/12/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 4/12/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 4/12/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 4/12/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 4/12/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 4/12/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 10/11/2023 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 10/11/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 10/11/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 10/11/2023 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 10/11/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 10/11/2023 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 10/11/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 10/11/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 10/11/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 10/11/2023 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 10/11/2023 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 10/11/2023 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 10/11/2023 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | 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 Des Arc Waterworks.
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 AR0000449 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
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 SDWISViolation 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | E. COLI | MR | 3 | SDWIS / AR0000449 / 3014 |
| 2018 | TTHM | MCL | 48 | SDWIS / AR0000449 / 2950 |
| 2009 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 13 | SDWIS / AR0000449 / 3100 |
| 2004 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 5 | SDWIS / AR0000449 / 3100 |
| 1999 | Consumer Confidence Rule | Other | 4 | SDWIS / AR0000449 / 7000 |
| 1998 | Coliform (TCR) | Other | 5 | SDWIS / AR0000449 / 3100 |
How Des Arc Waterworks Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | Des Arc Waterworks | Arkansas avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 80 | 52.6 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 53 | 21.3 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 33.1% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 4,245 | 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 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Des Arc Waterworks water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does Des Arc Waterworks serve? ▼
What type of violations does Des Arc Waterworks have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in Des Arc Waterworks water? ▼
What water source does Des Arc Waterworks use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.