Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Columbia, MO tap water
22 contaminants were measured in the Columbia, MO water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 22
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Bromide
- Service area
- MO
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Columbia, MO
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Columbia, MO's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 5 sources.
Source
- WELL # 2 EAST WELL
- NORTH WELL
- SOUTH WELL
- SOUTHWEST WELL
- + 1 more
Treatment
- EAST WELL- WILLIAMS ST & ROLLINS RD
- NORTH WELL - 1108 PAQUIN ST
- SOUTH WELL - 1004 STADIUM BLVD E
- + 2 more
Distribution
Also buys water from CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
12 historically-detected contaminants in Columbia, MO
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
RADIUM 226 228 worst: 2013 | 2.5 pCi/L within near national p90 | 5 pCi/L | '13'15'16'18 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2018 | 1.27 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'15'18 |
TTHM worst: 2015 | 0.00562 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '14'15'16'18'19 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2015 | 0.00281 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '12'13'15 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2013 | 0.07 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2018 | 0.00989 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'15'18 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.0228 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'14'15'17'18 |
LEAD worst: 2014 | 0.00792 mg/L | — | '14'17 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00091 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.00116 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2015 | 0.00052 mg/L | — | '15'16 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00185 mg/L | — | '12'14'15'16'18'19 |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water. | 0.0688 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | At or above the limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 96.5 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 250 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 31.5 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 250 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 8.22MaximumYour Water System Highest Sampled | 8.5MCL | Approaching the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 329 mg/LMaximumYour Water System Highest Sampled | 500 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 137 mg/LMaximumYour Water System Highest Sampled | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 187 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0.172 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 0.3 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | 0.00842 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.00165 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 0.1 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 0.00181 mg/LMaximumYour Water System Highest Sampled | 5 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 40.6 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 20.7 mg/LMaximumYour Water System Highest Sampled | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 4.41 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 35.2 mg/LMaximumYour Water System Highest Sampled | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 11 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 60 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
People also ask about Columbia, MO's water
+Is Columbia, MO tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Columbia, MO water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: Bromide. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Columbia, MO tap water?
22 contaminants were measured in Columbia, MO's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, inorganic chemicals, and physical & aggregate. 15 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Columbia, MO tap water?
One contaminant in Columbia, MO's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: Bromide (1.4× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Columbia, MO tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is Bromide, at 1.4× the federal threshold. It belongs to the inorganic chemicals family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Columbia, MO tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: pH. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Columbia, MO's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Columbia, MO's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.