Is Starkville, MS 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 City of Starkville.
City of Starkville supplies Starkville (32,027 people).
Water system
City of Starkville
32,027 people · Groundwater · EPA ID MS0530020
| 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: 1.7 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 Mississippi, 5 of 235 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 10 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Mississippi results.
Starkville 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 Starkville city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Tupelo 56 mi City of Tupelo | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Oxford 74 mi City of Oxford | Above limit | 0 ppb |
| Meridian 75 mi City of Meridian | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Madison 101 mi Bear Creek Water Association – West | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Brandon 105 mi City of Brandon | None above limits | 1.6 ppb |
| Pearl 109 mi City of Pearl | None above limits | 1.2 ppb |
Starkville ZIP codes (1)
- 39759
Questions
Is Starkville tap water safe to drink?
City of Starkville 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 Starkville, MS?
City of Starkville, which serves 32,027 people.
Does Starkville tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. City of Starkville 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 Starkville homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 35% of Starkville homes as built before 1980 (Mississippi: 42%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. City of Starkville'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.