Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Independence, MO tap water
16 contaminants were measured in the Independence, 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
- 16
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- pH
- Service area
- MO
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Independence, 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
Independence, MO's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 42 sources.
Source
- CBP · 39
- CBP COLLECT
- DBP
- WELL
Treatment
- INDEPENDENCE - TREATMENT PLANT
Distribution
Also buys water from KANSAS CITY PWS.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
13 historically-detected contaminants in Independence, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
HAA5 worst: 2014 | 0.0169 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '14'19 |
TTHM worst: 2012 | 0.011 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE NITRITE worst: 2016 | 1.02 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2015 | 0.24 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'15'18 |
BARIUM worst: 2012 | 0.06 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'15'18 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2015 | 0.00125 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '13'15 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.00246 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'15'18 |
DCAA worst: 2012 | 0.00707 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2014 | 0.0116 mg/L | — | '14 |
TCAA worst: 2013 | 0.00198 mg/L | — | '13'14'18 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00215 mg/L | — | '12'15'16'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.00833 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.00052 mg/L | — | '12 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 9.65Highest single sampleYour Water System Highest Sampled | 8.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 322 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 500 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 60.2 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 123 mg/LHighest single sampleYour Water System Highest Sampled | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 1.1 ug/L90th percentile90th Percentile: 90% of your water utility levels were less than | 15 ug/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 16.4 mg/LHighest single sampleYour Water System Highest Sampled | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 19.9 mg/LHighest single sampleYour Water System Highest Sampled | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 6 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 50 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Independence, MO's water
+Is Independence, MO tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Independence, MO water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: pH. 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 Independence, MO tap water?
16 contaminants were measured in Independence, MO's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 9 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 Independence, MO tap water?
One contaminant in Independence, MO's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: pH (1.1× 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 Independence, MO tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is pH, at 1.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Independence, 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 Independence, 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.