Is Paragould, AR tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Paragould Municipal Utilities.
Paragould Municipal Utilities supplies Paragould (31,188 people).
Water system
Paragould Municipal Utilities
31,188 people · Groundwater · EPA ID AR0000222
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 1 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Arkansas, 0 of 172 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 7 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Arkansas results.
Paragould homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Paragould city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro 19 mi Jonesboro Water System | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Cabot 113 mi Cabot Waterworks | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Jacksonville 121 mi Central Arkansas Water | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Sherwood 126 mi Central Arkansas Water | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| Conway 128 mi Conway Water System | None above limits | 1 ppb |
| North Little Rock 130 mi Central Arkansas Water | None above limits | 1 ppb |
Paragould ZIP codes (1)
- 72450
Questions
Is Paragould tap water safe to drink?
Paragould Municipal Utilities has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Paragould, AR?
Paragould Municipal Utilities, which serves 31,188 people.
Does Paragould tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Paragould Municipal Utilities had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Paragould homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 37% of Paragould homes as built before 1980 (Arkansas: 40%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Paragould Municipal Utilities's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.