Public water system · OK2003003
ActiveBuffalo
At a glance
Buffalo (PWSID OK2003003) is an active community water system in Harper County, Oklahoma. It reports serving 1,200 people through 638 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
1,200
Service connections
638
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Buffalo compare with other water systems in Harper County?
By EPA's size categories, Buffalo is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Harper County has 3 active public water systems, and Buffalo is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 44% above the county average of 832 people per system, and accounts for 48% of the 2,495 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Oklahoma, the 1,254 active systems average 2,907 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Buffalo is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Oklahoma has 864 active community water systems, 69% of the state's 1,254 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 701 Oklahoma systems (56%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Buffalo?
EPA lists Buffalo as owned by a local government. The OK state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 3 of the 3 active systems in Harper County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Buffalo have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2025. The violations listed here began between December 2005 and January 2025. By type: 9 monitoring and reporting and 3 contaminant level above the legal limit. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (5 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 as archived. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Archived means the violation was not marked resolved but is more than five years past the end of the noncompliance period, so it no longer counts toward current compliance status.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Archived |
| 2025-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Archived |
| 2019-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine (IDSE) · code 30 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2011-04-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine (IDSE) · code 30 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2010-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingFailure Submit IDSE/Subpart V Plan Rpt · code 35 | Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rulecode 0600 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2008-03-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2005-12-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Buffalo: frequently asked questions
Who runs Buffalo?
Buffalo (PWSID OK2003003) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the OK state drinking water program.
How many people does Buffalo serve?
Buffalo reports serving 1,200 people through 638 service connections in Harper County, Oklahoma.
Where does Buffalo get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Buffalo have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Buffalo's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 3 are health-based, and the most recent began in January 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the OK state drinking water program.
Where can I find Buffalo's water quality report?
As a community water system, Buffalo must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Harper County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laverne | Harper | 1,097 | Community | Groundwater |
| Harper Co Rwd #1 | Harper | 198 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Buffalo, PWSID OK2003003, Oklahoma”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/oklahoma/buffalo-ok2003003 (data as of October 1, 2026).