We read 23 results from Cape Girardeau Pws’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 2 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 39,941 people · Water system ID MO4010136 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range 1.36 to 2.82 · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.82 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal705x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 3.57 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal18x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.09 to 0.18 · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.18 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloridehighest measured · range 46 to 65.9 · 2025 report, page 3 | 65.9 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2024 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.15 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 8.59 to 8.59 · DBPDUAL-02, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 9 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 67 to 67 · DBPDUAL-01, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 67 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.59 to 0.71 · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.71 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Ironhighest measured · range 0.0083 to 0.06 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.06 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Manganesehighest measured · range ND to 0.0018 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.0018 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.02 to 0.04 · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.04 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| pHhighest measured · range 7.82 to 8.1 · 2025 report, page 3 | 8.1 | — | — | Normal range |
| Seleniumhighest measured · range ND to 6.4 · 2025 report, page 2 | 6.4 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range 39.5 to 48 · 2025 report, page 3 | 48 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Total dissolved solidshighest measured · range 180 to 288 · 2025 report, page 3 | 288 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Zinchighest measured · range ND to 0.0014 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.0014 ppm | — | 5 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Alkalinityhighest measured · range 132 to 202 · 2025 report, page 3 | 202 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Calciumhighest measured · range 24.2 to 39.1 · 2025 report, page 3 | 39.1 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnesshighest measured · range 7.08 to 9.06 · 2025 report, page 3 | 9.06 gpg (155 ppm) | — | — | Hard |
| Magnesiumhighest measured · range 11.3 to 14.6 · 2025 report, page 3 | 14.6 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Nickelhighest measured · range ND to 1.82 · printed as 0.00182 MG/L · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.82 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Potassiumhighest measured · range 1.64 to 1.74 · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.74 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 19.5 to 22.3 · 2025 report, page 3 | 22.3 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 3 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Cape Girardeau Pws’s water between Jul 2024 and Jan 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium10.3 ppbFound in 1 of 4 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
More districts: Missouri water quality · All states · Something look wrong? Tell us