Jonesboro
Jonesboro, AR water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
jonesboro water system
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID AR0000124
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Jonesboro, AR is a small but growing city, with a population near 73,907 and the 5th-largest community in Arkansas. Like much of Arkansas, Jonesboro draws its water primarily from Arkansas River, Mississippi alluvial aquifer, and Ozark aquifer.
Jonesboro's water outlook is shaped most by groundwater depletion — the issue that dominates planning across Arkansas. Heavy agricultural pumping from the alluvial aquifer for rice and row crops is the dominant long-term concern.
Jonesboro sits in a state that reuses roughly 5% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences exceptional drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Arkansas state water profile and the related issues below.
Poinsett County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~73,907 (5th-largest in Arkansas)
- Primary sources: Arkansas River, Mississippi alluvial aquifer, and Ozark aquifer
- Drought: exceptional conditions
- State reuse rate: ~5% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Arkansas in severe+ drought (Exceptional (D4) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Jonesboro?
Jonesboro's largest water system, JONESBORO WATER SYSTEM, serves about 79,889 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Jonesboro get its water?
JONESBORO WATER SYSTEM draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Arkansas's supply from Arkansas River, Mississippi alluvial aquifer, Ozark aquifer.
Related water issues
Groundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
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