Not health advice. Contact your local water utility for concerns.
Data from EPA Water Quality Reports. For official information, contact your water utility or health department.
EPA records for CITY OF HATTIESBURG • Updated October 2026
Grade B — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CITY OF HATTIESBURG is in good standing with EPA, with only minor deductions for monitoring paperwork, low-level PFAS or historical readings near a limit.
Yes — by EPA's records Hattiesburg, MS tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on lead at 10.4 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
Yes — by EPA's records Hattiesburg, MS tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on lead at 10.4 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 10.4 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 348 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF HATTIESBURG (2024-02-21 to 2024-08-20) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG has 7 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 4 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 43,449 people (EPA PWSID MS0180008).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Compare filter options for your Hattiesburg tap water
Lead was found at 10.4 ppb (90th percentile) in Hattiesburg's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
See the filters matched to Hattiesburg's EPA results → — which certification actually removes what was found here, and what it does not touch.
Unsure which contaminants to treat? Compare home kits and certified lab testing before buying.
Amazon. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-10-16
EPA records no health-based violations for this system in the last five years. The 4 violations on file in that window are monitoring or reporting paperwork issues, not measured contaminant exceedances.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring & reporting | 2023-10-01 → 2024-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2024-09-30 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)TTHM | Monitoring & reporting | 2023-10-01 → 2024-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2024-09-30 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-10-01 → 2023-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2023-09-30 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)TTHM | Monitoring & reporting | 2022-10-01 → 2023-09-30 | Resolvedreturned 2023-09-30 |
| Monitoring and Reporting (DBP)Chlorine | Monitoring & reporting | 2018-04-01 → 2018-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2018-06-30 |
| Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RLead and Copper Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2016-10-01 | Unaddressed |
| Follow-up Or Routine LCR Tap M/RLead and Copper Rule | Monitoring & reporting | 2016-10-01 | Unaddressed |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_VIOLATIONS_ENFORCEMENT.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile results reported by CITY OF HATTIESBURG
Below the action level, but detectable. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31), 90% of the homes CITY OF HATTIESBURG sampled had lead at or below 10.4 ppb.
EPA's action level is 15 ppb (dropping to 10 ppb under the 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). There is no safe level of lead; the 90th-percentile figure describes the system, not your tap — homes with lead service lines or pre-1986 plumbing can be higher.
| Monitoring period | Lead 90th percentile | vs 15 ppb action level |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-01 → 2023-12-31 | 10.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-06-30 | 2.8 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2014-01-01 → 2016-12-31 | 2.4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2013-01-01 → 2015-12-31 | 3.9 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2011-01-01 → 2013-12-31 | 3.9 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2008-01-01 → 2010-12-31 | 12.5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2005-01-01 → 2007-12-31 | 3.1 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2002-01-01 → 2004-12-31 | 3.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1999-01-01 → 2001-12-31 | 4 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 1996-01-01 → 1998-12-31 | 5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1995-01-01 → 1995-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 1994-01-01 → 1994-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2024-02-21 to 2024-08-20 · 348 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 348 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF HATTIESBURG were at or above the method reporting limit. Reporting limits are about 3–5 ppt, so “not detected” means below that threshold — not proven zero.
| Compound | Detects / samples | Max (ppt) | Reporting limit | EPA MCL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 0 / 12 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS | 0 / 12 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS | 0 / 12 | < 3 | 3 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFNA | 0 / 12 | < 4 | 4 ppt | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA | 0 / 12 | < 5 | 5 ppt | 10 ppt |
| PFBS | 0 / 12 | < 3 | 3 ppt | hazard index only |
“< 4 ppt” means below the laboratory reporting limit, not zero. ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). Results are for finished water leaving the treatment plant.
Lithium (also monitored under UCMR5, not a PFAS): detected in 1 of 12 samples, max 9.2 µg/L. There is no federal limit for lithium.
What PFAS are and how to remove them →
Source: UCMR5 occurrence data, EPA Data Summary July 2026 (UCMR5_All.txt)
A point-of-use (under-sink) system typically runs $200-$600 installed; whole-house treatment $1,000-$3,000+ depending on flow and what has to come out. Tell us where you are and a certified water-treatment installer serving Hattiesburg will follow up - no obligation.
Groundwater systems draw from wells; naturally occurring arsenic, nitrate, radium and uranium are the readings to watch, along with PFAS near industrial or military sites.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Hattiesburg homes
The most reliable way to know what is actually coming out of your tap is a certified mail-in lab test. City-wide EPA data (like the report above) reflects the water leaving the treatment plant, but contaminants such as lead and copper can be picked up from your own service line and household plumbing — so the water at your Hattiesburg faucet can differ from the system average. A state-certified lab measures dozens of contaminants at once with results you can trust; you can also find one near you through the EPA's certified-lab list at epa.gov/dwlabcert. Hardware-store test strips are cheaper and instant, but they only screen for a few basics (chlorine, hardness, pH, and a rough lead pass/fail) and are far less accurate — treat them as a first look, not a diagnosis.
Match the treatment to what your test finds. Reverse osmosis (RO) removes the widest range of contaminants — lead, arsenic, nitrate, PFAS, and dissolved solids — which makes an under-sink reverse osmosis system the most thorough choice for Hattiesburg households with heavy-metal or PFAS concerns. If your main issue is taste, odor, or chlorine, an activated carbon filter (pitcher, faucet, or under-sink) is simpler and cheaper and handles chlorine and many organic compounds well, though carbon alone does not remove arsenic, nitrate, or most PFAS. NSF-certified pitchers rated for lead reduction are the easiest way to start today while you decide on a permanent setup.
We may earn a commission from testing kits and filters purchased through these links, at no extra cost to you.
What Hattiesburg residents measured at their own tap. All reader results →
Reader submissions are unverified and shown separately from EPA data. They reflect one tap on one day, not the utility's compliance record.
No reader results for Hattiesburg yet - yours would be the first. A hardness or TDS number from a $10 strip kit is enough to start the map.
Help build the first reader-sourced water map. Enter whatever your test strip, TDS pen or lab report shows - one number is enough.
Hattiesburg ranks #39 of 46 graded Mississippi cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Hattiesburg's water, with removal options for each.
Yes — by EPA's records Hattiesburg, MS tap water is safe to drink and earns a B. The grade rests on lead at 10.4 ppb (90th percentile) — under the 15 ppb action level but above 5 ppb. Lead from your own service line or plumbing is the main risk city-level data cannot see, so homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2021-01-01 to 2023-12-31) was 10.4 ppb at the 90th percentile, below EPA's 15 ppb action level. Because lead usually comes from service lines and household plumbing, homes built before 1986 should still test at the tap.
No. None of the 348 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF HATTIESBURG (2024-02-21 to 2024-08-20) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG has 7 violations on file since 2016: 0 health-based in the last five years and 4 monitoring or reporting violations in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CITY OF HATTIESBURG reports groundwater as its primary source and serves about 43,449 people (EPA PWSID MS0180008).
Optional but sensible. The findings on this page are below federal limits; an NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter handles lead and improves taste.
Lead was found at 10.4 ppb (90th percentile) in Hattiesburg's latest tap sampling — below the action level, but there is no safe level of lead.
Most Popular for Lead
ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher
NSF 53 certified to reduce lead & chromium — no installation, the easiest way to start protecting your water today.
Check Price on AmazonCompare direct from Waterdrop
Filters rated for lead reduction
Waterdrop's lead collection — every filter here is selected for lead reduction, so you can compare options rated for this exact problem.
Shop Filters Rated for Lead →Whole-Home Filtration System
Whole-house system — treats every tap at the source
For consistently poor water, a whole-home system filters every faucet, shower, and appliance — the permanent, install-once fix that goes beyond a single point-of-use filter.
Explore Whole-Home SystemsNot sure what filter you need?
Test your tap water first, so you filter for what's actually in it.
Shop Home Water Test Kits →We may earn a commission from Amazon and Waterdrop when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Based on contaminants detected in your water, these resources may be helpful:
Find the right filter for your Hattiesburg water quality needs:
Understand your water better with our in-depth guides on contaminants, filtration, and water safety.