Baxter County, Arkansas — public water systems

How does Baxter County compare with other Arkansas counties?

Baxter County has the most active public water systems among the 83 counties listed for active Arkansas systems in EPA records; among the 72 with 3 or more systems, the median has 10. Its systems report 38,879 people served in total, the 22nd-largest county figure in the state and 1.3% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 778 people, well below the Arkansas average of 3,592. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Baxter County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Baxter County's active systems draw on groundwater (43, 86%), purchased surface water (4, 8%), groundwater under influence of surface water (2, 4%) and surface water (1, 2%). Overall, 90% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 10% on surface water, compared with 63% and 37% across Arkansas. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Mountain Home Waterworks, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Baxter County?

Baxter County's active systems break down as 16 community systems (32%) and 34 transient non-community systems (68%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (62%), local government (26%) and federal government (12%).