Bates County, Missouri
10 ZIP codes · Avg score 72/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Bates County's tap water quality puts it in the upper tier nationally; the 10 ZIP codes here record few health-based violations.
How Bates County Compares
How Bates County Compares
Bates County scores 3 points above the Missouri state average (69/100) and 4 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Bates County, Missouri
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.7 (asthma 10.9%, diabetes 13.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $514, driven primarily by water_lead
Infrastructure: 0.438% avg pipe failure probability, 70% of ZIPs at high risk
65.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Bates County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 16 violations. Past 5 years: 52 total (52 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $514
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
8,046 housing units in Bates County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Bates County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Bates County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Bates County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Bates County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bates County Pwsd 4 | 2,348 | 59 |
| 2 | Bates County Pwsd 5 | 2,690 | 30 |
| 3 | Bates County Pwsd 2 | 752 | 30 |
| 4 | Bates County Pwsd 6 | 1,613 | 22 |
| 5 | Cass Bates County Pwsd 12 | 1,335 | 20 |
18 total water systems serve Bates County.
All ZIP Codes in Bates County
10 ZIP codes tracked in Bates County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64745 | Foster | 82 | B | 2 (1 health) | $72K |
| 2 | 64780 | Rockville | 82 | B | 3 (1 health) | $66K |
| 3 | 64720 | Adrian | 80 | B | 13 (3 health) | $163K |
| 4 | 64779 | Rich Hill | 78 | B | 4 (2 health) | $89K |
| 5 | 64742 | Drexel | 76 | B | 5 | $226K |
| 6 | 64730 | Butler | 74 | B | 2 | $170K |
| 7 | 64722 | Amoret | 71 | B | 6 (4 health) | $116K |
| 8 | 64723 | Amsterdam | 66 | C | 11 (8 health) | $175K |
| 9 | 64752 | Hume | 60 | C | 16 | $117K |
| 10 | 64765 | Metz | 53 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Bates County
Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 65.7% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bates County, Missouri
Overview
Bates County in Missouri covers 10 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (72/100).
9 of 10 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 19 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Missouri water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.