Water System Report MO

Cole County Pwsd 3

EPA ID: MO3024162 · 2,000 people served · 13 ZIP codes

Zero violations in five consecutive years of EPA monitoring — Cole County Pwsd 3 has held a clean track record across every reporting cycle in that span, with no enforcement activity of any kind on file for the full service population of 2,000 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

2,000
People Served
13
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Cole County Pwsd 3 Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$73,222
Median Household Income
73,254
Service Area Population
11%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
45th
Energy Burden Percentile
61%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Cole County Pwsd 3 serves a community with a median household income of $73,222 and an estimated 73,254 residents across its service area. Approximately 61% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Cole County Pwsd 3's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
58th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
18th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Cole County, Missouri rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

50 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
20 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 71% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Missouri

B 1 violation
Stoddard County Pwsd 4
2,000 people
0 violations
0 violations
0 violations
Taney County Pwsd 1
2,000 people
B 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Flood Insurance $738
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $46
Total Estimated Cost $1,185

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,185 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Cole County Pwsd 3 (EPA ID: MO3024162) is a community water system in Missouri that serves approximately 2,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 13 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 10 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Cole County Pwsd 3 (MO3024162) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cole County Pwsd 3 water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Cole County Pwsd 3 has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Cole County Pwsd 3 serve?

Cole County Pwsd 3 serves approximately 2,000 people across 13 ZIP codes in Missouri.

Where does Cole County Pwsd 3 get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
848
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 2,000
Reported to Missouri

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
Cole County Pwsd 3 meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Cole County Pwsd 3 serve?
Cole County Pwsd 3 serves approximately 2,000 people with drinking water across 13 ZIP codes.
What is Cole County Pwsd 3's water source?
Cole County Pwsd 3 draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Cole County Pwsd 3's service area?
The Cole County Pwsd 3 service area has a median household income of $73,222. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Cole County Pwsd 3 get its water?
Cole County Pwsd 3's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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