BUFFALO
PWS ID: OK2003003 · BUFFALO, Oklahoma 73834
BUFFALO serves 1,200 people in BUFFALO, Oklahoma using Groundwater water sources. It has 66 recorded EPA violations, including 29 health-based violations. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing.
Water Quality Snapshot: BUFFALO
BUFFALO is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 1,200 residents in BUFFALO, Oklahoma (Harper County) through 638 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 66 total violations for this system , of which 29 (44%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 30 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2019.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 29 violations (MCL, health-based). This system has not yet been sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, so no PFAS detection data is available here.
Across Oklahoma, EPA tracks 1,262 public water systems serving 3,699,452 people, with 336,706 cumulative violations and 113,804 health-based violations on record. About 98% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 266.8 violations. BUFFALO's 66 violations sit below the Oklahoma average. Statewide, 101 of 166 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (60.8%). 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
- 638
- County
- Harper
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 29
- Monitoring Violations
- 30
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 0
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 29 | 2013 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 16 | 2008 |
| TTHM | MR | 6 | 2019 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 6 | 2019 |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | MR | 2 | 2010 |
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 BUFFALO.
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 OK2003003 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Oklahoma Drinking Water Authority
Oklahoma'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 OK 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | TTHM | MR | 6 | SDWIS / OK2003003 / 2950 |
| 2019 | Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MR | 6 | SDWIS / OK2003003 / 2456 |
| 2013 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 29 | SDWIS / OK2003003 / 3100 |
| 2010 | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | MR | 2 | SDWIS / OK2003003 / 0600 |
| 2008 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 16 | SDWIS / OK2003003 / 3100 |
How BUFFALO Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | BUFFALO | Oklahoma avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 66 | 266.8 | SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 29 | 90.2 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | None | 60.8% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 1,200 | 2,931 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 1,262 regulated public water systems in Oklahoma.
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
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Related Data for Oklahoma
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.