We read 23 results from University of Missouri Columbia’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 40,000 people · Water system ID MO3069001 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoridehighest measured · range 0.91 to 1.41 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 2 | 1.41 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Above the health goal1.4x the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.89 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal14x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range 2.7 to 2.7 · sampled 2022 · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.7 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Radium-226highest measured · range 2.7 to 2.7 · sampled 2022 · 2025 report, page 2 | 2.7 pCi/L | 0.05 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goal54x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.0027 to 0.0068 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.0068 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloridehighest measured · range 32 to 48.4 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 48.4 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.25 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 2.16 to 2.16 · DBPDUAL-01, highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 2 | 2 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Ironhighest measured · range ND to 0.01 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.01 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Manganesehighest measured · range ND to 0.0013 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.0013 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.01 to 0.03 · 2025 report, page 2 | 0.03 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| pHhighest measured · range 7.63 to 8.11 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 8.11 | — | — | Normal range |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range 30.7 to 44.7 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 44.7 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Total dissolved solidshighest measured · range 348 to 388 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 388 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Zinchighest measured · range 0.0014 to 0.01 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.01 ppm | — | 5 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Alkalinityhighest measured · range 271 to 325 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 325 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Calciumhighest measured · range 53.7 to 56.8 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 56.8 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Hardnesshighest measured · range 14 to 14.9 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 14.9 gpg (255 ppm) | — | — | Very hard |
| Lithiumhighest measured · range 31.9 to 52.2 · sampled 2024 · highest of 2 sources · 2025 report, page 3 | 52.2 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Magnesiumhighest measured · range 25.8 to 27.4 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 27.4 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Nickelhighest measured · range 1.85 to 2 · printed as 0.002 MG/L · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 2 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| Potassiumhighest measured · range 5.36 to 6.59 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 6.59 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 41.9 to 54.7 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 54.7 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. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in University of Missouri Columbia’s water between Jun 2024 and Dec 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium52.2 ppbFound in 10 of 10 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.
Fluoride
Found: Fluoride
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Radium (combined 226 + 228), Radium-226
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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