Water System Report MO

University of Missouri Columbia

EPA ID: MO3069001 · 40,000 people served · 11 ZIP codes

Throughout five consecutive years of federal water monitoring, University of Missouri Columbia recorded zero violations — solid performance for a utility serving 40,000 people.

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

40,000
People Served
11
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged

Service Area Map

Coverage area for University of Missouri Columbia Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$69,740
Median Household Income
157,464
Service Area Population
15%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
52th
Energy Burden Percentile
42%
Pre-1986 Housing

The University of Missouri Columbia serves a community with a median household income of $69,740 and an estimated 157,464 residents across its service area. Approximately 42% 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

University of Missouri Columbia'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
77th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

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

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 77th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Unknown
Pipe Material
23 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 65% 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. 4 detections recorded.

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 8 violations
B 2 violations
C 0 violations
Fort Leonard Wood
34,000 people
B 0 violations
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $400
Flood Insurance $382
PFAS Treatment $182
Total Estimated Cost $964

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 $964 (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

University of Missouri Columbia (EPA ID: MO3069001) is a community water system in Missouri that serves approximately 40,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 11 ZIP codes across 1 community.

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: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 9 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 University of Missouri Columbia (MO3069001) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is University of Missouri Columbia water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, University of Missouri Columbia has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does University of Missouri Columbia serve?

University of Missouri Columbia serves approximately 40,000 people across 11 ZIP codes in Missouri.

Where does University of Missouri Columbia get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
290

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

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
282
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: 40,000
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 →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
University of Missouri Columbia meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does University of Missouri Columbia serve?
University of Missouri Columbia serves approximately 40,000 people with drinking water across 11 ZIP codes.
What is University of Missouri Columbia's water source?
University of Missouri Columbia draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of University of Missouri Columbia's service area?
The University of Missouri Columbia service area has a median household income of $69,740. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does University of Missouri Columbia get its water?
University of Missouri Columbia'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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