We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Arkansas to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
Mabelvale, Arkansas
Mabelvale has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 30 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mabelvale water report →Bentonville, Arkansas
Bentonville has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bentonville water report →Beebe, Arkansas
Beebe has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Beebe water report →Beedeville, Arkansas
Beedeville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Beedeville water report →Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Magnolia water report →Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fayetteville water report →Springdale, Arkansas
Springdale has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Springdale water report →Lakeview, Arkansas
Lakeview has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lakeview water report →Mountain Home, Arkansas
Mountain Home has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Mountain Home water report →Shannon Hills, Arkansas
Shannon Hills has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Shannon Hills water report →Hope, Arkansas
Hope has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Hope water report →Cabot, Arkansas
Cabot has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Cabot water report →Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Siloam Springs has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Siloam Springs water report →Rogers, Arkansas
Rogers has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rogers water report →Forrest City, Arkansas
Forrest City has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Forrest City water report →Palestine, Arkansas
Palestine has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Palestine water report →Caldwell, Arkansas
Caldwell has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Caldwell water report →Widener, Arkansas
Widener has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 23 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Widener water report →Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Little Rock water report →Decatur, Arkansas
Decatur has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Decatur water report →North Little Rock, Arkansas
North Little Rock has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full North Little Rock water report →Rosston, Arkansas
Rosston has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Rosston water report →Batesville, Arkansas
Batesville has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Batesville water report →Conway, Arkansas
Conway has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Conway water report →Stuttgart, Arkansas
Stuttgart has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 19 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Stuttgart water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Dibromochloromethane, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5). These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 317 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 0 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 317 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mabelvale | AR | 30 | 16 | 0 | 13,752 |
| 2 | Bentonville | AR | 25 | 14 | 0 | 51,250 |
| 3 | Beebe | AR | 23 | 14 | 0 | 8,999 |
| 4 | Beedeville | AR | 26 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Magnolia | AR | 25 | 13 | 0 | 11,355 |
| 6 | Fayetteville | AR | 24 | 13 | 0 | 105,677 |
| 7 | Springdale | AR | 24 | 13 | 0 | 95,038 |
| 8 | Lakeview | AR | 24 | 13 | 0 | 3,975 |
| 9 | Mountain Home | AR | 23 | 13 | 0 | 18,925 |
| 10 | Shannon Hills | AR | 23 | 13 | 0 | 3,832 |
| 11 | Hope | AR | 22 | 13 | 0 | 11,500 |
| 12 | Cabot | AR | 19 | 13 | 0 | 26,770 |
| 13 | Siloam Springs | AR | 25 | 12 | 0 | 20,900 |
| 14 | Rogers | AR | 24 | 12 | 0 | 70,878 |
| 15 | Forrest City | AR | 23 | 12 | 0 | 11,691 |
| 16 | Palestine | AR | 23 | 12 | 0 | 1,800 |
| 17 | Caldwell | AR | 23 | 12 | 0 | 1,585 |
| 18 | Widener | AR | 23 | 12 | 0 | 497 |
| 19 | Little Rock | AR | 22 | 12 | 0 | 330,667 |
| 20 | Decatur | AR | 22 | 12 | 0 | 2,468 |
| 21 | North Little Rock | AR | 22 | 12 | 0 | 1,500 |
| 22 | Rosston | AR | 22 | 12 | 0 | 1,430 |
| 23 | Batesville | AR | 20 | 12 | 0 | 10,177 |
| 24 | Conway | AR | 19 | 12 | 0 | 64,008 |
| 25 | Stuttgart | AR | 19 | 12 | 0 | 15,153 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Arkansas?
Based on 2026 data, Mabelvale, AR has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
