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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 JACKSON • Updated October 2026
Grade F — based on EPA compliance records, lead testing and PFAS monitoring
CITY OF JACKSON has serious issues in EPA's records: repeated health-based violations, unresolved violations, PFAS above the federal limit or lead near the action level. We recommend filtering drinking water.
Jackson, MS tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 16 health-based EPA violations in the last five years (1 unresolved). A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Jackson's water system reports 13,816 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
Jackson, MS tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 16 health-based EPA violations in the last five years (1 unresolved). A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Jackson's water system reports 13,816 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
CITY OF JACKSON's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-07-01 to 2025-12-31) was 4.1 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 JACKSON (2025-02-04 to 2025-11-04) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CITY OF JACKSON has 39 violations on file since 2016: 16 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CITY OF JACKSON reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 189,673 people (EPA PWSID MS0250008).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
Compare filter options for your Jackson tap water
CITY OF JACKSON has 16 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
See the filters matched to Jackson'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.
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CITY OF JACKSON · SDWIS records since 2016 · 5-year window starts 2021-10-16
EPA records 16 health-based violations for this system in the last five years, and 1 health-based violation is still listed as unaddressed or addressed-but-not-resolved. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) or a required treatment step was not met.
| Violation | Category | Compliance period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2025-04-01 → 2025-06-30 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2025-04-01 → 2025-06-30 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2025-01-01 → 2025-03-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2025-01-01 → 2025-03-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2024-10-01 → 2024-12-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2024-10-01 → 2024-12-31 | Archived |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTTHM | MCL exceeded | 2024-07-01 → 2024-09-30 | Archived |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2024-07-01 → 2024-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2024-12-31 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2024-01-01 → 2024-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2024-06-30 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2023-07-01 → 2023-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2023-12-31 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2023-01-01 → 2023-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2023-06-30 |
| Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2022-07-01 → 2022-07-31 | Archived |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2022-07-01 → 2022-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2022-12-31 |
| Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2022-06-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2022-06-30 |
| Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR)Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2021-11-01 → 2021-11-30 | Resolvedreturned 2021-11-30 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2021-07-01 → 2021-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-12-31 |
| Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2021-03-01 → 2021-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-03-31 |
| Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2021-02-01 → 2021-02-28 | Resolvedreturned 2021-02-28 |
| Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR)Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2021-02-01 → 2021-02-28 | Resolvedreturned 2021-02-28 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2021-01-01 → 2021-06-30 | Resolvedreturned 2021-06-30 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2021-01-01 → 2021-03-31 | Resolvedreturned 2021-03-31 |
| Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR)Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment technique | 2020-10-01 → 2020-10-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-10-31 |
| Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageTotal Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | MCL exceeded | 2020-10-01 → 2020-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-12-31 |
| WQP Entry Point/Tap Treatment Technique Non-ComplianceLead and Copper Rule | Treatment technique | 2020-07-01 → 2020-12-31 | Resolvedreturned 2020-12-31 |
Showing 25 of 39 violations on file. Full record on EPA ECHO.
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 JACKSON
Well below the 15 ppb action level. In the most recent monitoring period on file (2025-07-01 to 2025-12-31), 90% of the homes CITY OF JACKSON sampled had lead at or below 4.1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-01 → 2025-12-31 | 4.1 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2025-01-01 → 2025-06-30 | 4.5 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2024-07-01 → 2024-12-31 | 5.2 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2024-01-01 → 2024-06-30 | 7.4 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2023-07-01 → 2023-12-31 | 9.5 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2023-01-01 → 2023-06-30 | 5.8 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-07-01 → 2022-12-31 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2022-01-01 → 2022-06-30 | 4.2 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2021-07-01 → 2021-12-31 | 10.7 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2021-01-01 → 2021-06-30 | 6 ppb | Below the action level, but detectable |
| 2020-07-01 → 2020-12-31 | 4.6 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
| 2020-01-01 → 2020-06-30 | 3.7 ppb | Well below the 15 ppb action level |
Source: ECHO SDWA bulk download (SDWA_LCR_SAMPLES.csv, SDWIS 2026Q2, file dated 2026-07-09, fetched 2026-09-06)
EPA UCMR5 monitoring, 2025-02-04 to 2025-11-04 · 348 PFAS results at entry points to the distribution system
No PFAS detected. None of the 348 UCMR5 PFAS results for CITY OF JACKSON 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.
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 Jackson will follow up - no obligation.
CITY OF JACKSON · 63,066 service lines inventoried · Q2 2026 snapshot
CITY OF JACKSON reports 13,816 service lines that are lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement (22% of the lines it has inventoried), plus 22,800 lines whose material is still unknown. A lead service line is the pipe between the water main and a building, so treated water can pick up lead after it leaves the plant — which city-level testing does not capture. Under EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, utilities must replace lead lines within 10 years starting in 2027.
Source: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory (Q2 2026) · PWS ID MS0250008 · See all Mississippi lead service lines. We may earn a commission from filters and test kits, at no extra cost to you.
Surface-water systems draw from rivers, lakes or reservoirs and must filter and disinfect, which is why disinfection byproducts (TTHM, HAA5) are the readings to watch.
How to test your tap water and the treatment options that actually fit Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson 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.
Jackson ranks #46 of 46 graded Mississippi cities.
Deep-dive guides for the specific contaminants EPA data flagged in Jackson's water, with removal options for each.
Jackson, MS tap water is legal to drink but grades F on EPA's records, mainly because of 16 health-based EPA violations in the last five years (1 unresolved). A certified filter matched to that finding is a reasonable precaution. The catch is lead pipes: Jackson's water system reports 13,816 lead or galvanized service lines still in the ground in EPA's 2026 inventory, and lead leaches from those pipes after the water leaves the plant. If your home is on one, test at the tap or use a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead.
CITY OF JACKSON's most recent Lead and Copper Rule result (2025-07-01 to 2025-12-31) was 4.1 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 JACKSON (2025-02-04 to 2025-11-04) were at or above the reporting limit of roughly 3–5 ppt.
CITY OF JACKSON has 39 violations on file since 2016: 16 health-based in the last five years (1 still unresolved) and 1 monitoring or reporting violation in that window. Monitoring violations are paperwork lapses, not measured contamination.
CITY OF JACKSON reports surface water as its primary source and serves about 189,673 people (EPA PWSID MS0250008).
We recommend one. Check which contaminant the violations involved (table above) and choose a filter certified for it.
CITY OF JACKSON has 16 health-based EPA violations in the last five years.
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