Is Columbia Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Can You Drink Tap Water in Columbia?

Yes, Columbia's tap water is generally considered safe to drink as Columbia has no active health based violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) that we are aware of. Other factors such as lead piping in a home, or low levels of pollutants on immunocompromised individuals, should also be considered, however. To find more recent info we might have, you can check out our boil water notice page, the city's water provider website, or Columbia's local Twitter account.

According the EPA’s ECHO database, from April 30, 2019 to June 30, 2022, Columbia's water utility, Columbia Pws, had 0 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. For more details on the violations, please see our violation history section below. This assessment is based on the Columbia Pws water system, other water systems in the city may have different results.

While tap water that meets the EPA health guidelines generally won’t make you sick to your stomach, it can still contain regulated and unregulated contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run. These trace contaminants may also impact immunocompromised and vulnerable individuals.

The EPA is reviewing if it’s current regulations around pollutant levels in tap water are strict enough, and the health dangers posed by unregulated pollutants, like PFAS.

Water Quality Report for Columbia Tap Water

The most recent publicly available numbers for measured contaminant levels in Columbia tap water are in its 2020 Water Quality Report. As you can see, there are levels which the EPA considers to be acceptable, but being below the maximum allowable level doesn’t necessarily mean the water is healthy.

Lead in tap water, for example, is currently allowed at up to 15ppb by the EPA, but it has set the ideal goal for lead at zero. This highlights how meeting EPA standards doesn’t necessarily mean local tap water is healthy.

EPA regulations continue to change as it evaluates the long term impacts of chemicals and updates drinking water acceptable levels. The rules around arsenic, as well as, lead and copper are currently being re-evaluated.

There are also a number of "emerging" contaminants that are not currently. For example, PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), for which the EPA has issued a health advisory. PFAS are called "forever chemicals" since they tend not to break down in the environment or the human body and can accumulate over time.

We recommend looking at the contaminants present in Columbia's water quality reports, or getting your home's tap water tested to see if you should be filtering your water.

Columbia Tap Water Safe Drinking Water Act Violation History - Prior 10 Years

Below is a ten year history of violations for the water system named Columbia Pws for Columbia in Missouri. For more details please see the "What do these Violations Mean?" section below.

Is there Lead in Columbia Water?

Based on the EPA’s ECHO Database, 90% of the samples taken from the Columbia water system, Columbia Pws, between sample start date and sample end date, were at or below, 0.00306 mg/L of lead in Columbia water. This is 20.4% of the 0.015 mg/L action level. This means 10% of the samples taken from Columbia contained more lead.

While Columbia water testing may have found 0.00306 mg/L of lead in its water, that does not mean your water source has the same amount. The amount of lead in water in a city can vary greatly from neighborhood to neighborhood, or even building to building. Many buildings, particularly older ones, have lead pipes or service lines which can be a source of contamination. To find out if your home has lead, we recommend getting you water tested.

No amount of lead in water is healthy, only less dangerous. As lead accumulates in our bodies over time, even exposure to relatively small amounts can have negative health effects. For more information, please check out our Lead FAQ page.

Are there PFAS in Columbia Tap Water?

Currently, testing tap water for PFAS isn’t mandated on a national level. We do have a list of military bases where there have been suspected or confirmed leaks. There appears to be at least one military base - Jefferson City AASF/Armory - near Columbia with suspected leaks.

With many potential sources of PFAS in tap water across the US, the best information we currently have about which cities have PFAS in their water is this ewg map, which you can check to see if Columbia has been evaluated for yet.

Our stance is better safe than sorry, and that it makes sense to try to purify the tap water just in case.

What do these Violations Mean?

Safe Drinking Water Act Violations categories split into two groups, health based, and non-health based. Generally, health based violations are more serious, though non-health based violations can also be cause for concern.

Health Based Violations

Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) - maximum allowed contaminant level was exceeded.
Maximum residual disinfectant levels (MRDLs) - maximum allowed disinfectant level was exceeded.
Other violations (Other) - the exact required process to reduce the amounts of contaminants in drinking water was not followed.

Non-Health Based Violations

Monitoring and reporting violations (MR, MON) - failure to conduct the required regular monitoring of drinking water quality, and/or to submit monitoring results on time.
Public notice violations (Other) - failure to immediately alert consumers if there is a serious problem with their drinking water that may pose a risk to public health.
Other violations (Other) - miscellaneous violations, such as failure to issue annual consumer confidence reports or maintain required records.

SDWA Table Key

Field	Description
Compliance Period	Dates of the compliance period.
Status	Current status of the violation. Resolved - The violation has at least one resolving enforcement action. In SDWIS, this indicates that either the system has returned to compliance from the violation, the rule that was violated was no longer applicable, or no further action was needed. Archived - The violation is not Resolved, but is more than five years past its compliance period end date. In keeping with the Enforcement Response Policy, the violation no longer contributes to the public water system's overall compliance status. Unresolved violations are also marked as Archived when a system ceases operations (becomes inactive). Addressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and is addressed by one or more formal enforcement actions. Unaddressed - The violation is not Resolved or Archived, and has not been addressed by formal enforcement. show details
Health-Based?	Whether the violation is health based.
Category Code	The category of violation that is reported. TT - Treatment Technique Violation MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Other - Other Violation MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level Violation MR - Monitoring and Reporting MON - Monitoring Violation RPT - Reporting Violation show details
Code	A full description of violation codes can be accessed in the SDWA_REF_CODE_VALUES (CSV) table.
Contaminant Code	A code value that represents a contaminant for which a public water system has incurred a violation of a primary drinking water regulation.
Rule Code	Code for a National Drinking Water rule. 110 - Total Coliform Rule 121 - Surface Water Treatment Rule 122 - Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule 123 - Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule 130 - Filter Backwash Rule 140 - Ground Water Rule 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule 230 - Total Trihalomethanes 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals 331 - Nitrates 332 - Arsenic 333 - Inorganic Chemicals 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals 340 - Radionuclides 350 - Lead and Copper Rule 410 - Public Notice Rule 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule 430 - Miscellaneous 500 - Not Regulated 111 - Revised Total Coliform Rule show details
Rule Group Code	Code that uniquely identifies a rule group. 120 - Surface Water Treatment Rules 130 - Filter Backwash Rule 140 - Groundwater Rule 210 - Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule 220 - Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule 230 - Total Trihalomethanes 310 - Volatile Organic Chemicals 320 - Synthetic Organic Chemicals 330 - Inorganic Chemicals 340 - Radionuclides 350 - Lead and Copper Rule 400 - Other 500 - Not Regulated 110 - Total Coliform Rules 410 - Public Notice Rule 420 - Consumer Confidence Rule 430 - Miscellaneous show details
Rule Family Code	Code for rule family. 100 - Microbials 200 - Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule 300 - Chemicals 400 - Other 500 - Not Regulated show details

For more clarification please visit the EPA's data dictionary.

Columbia Water - Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF MY WATER?

The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity. Our water comes from the following source(s): Source Water Assessment

HOW DO I CONTACT COLUMBIA CUSTOMER SERVICE?

To contact customer service for the Columbia water provider, Columbia Pws, please use the information below.

By Mail:

701 E BROADWAY
PO BOX 6015
COLUMBIA, MO, 65205-6015

HOW TO PAY BILL FOR COLUMBIA PWS

Already have an account?

Existing customers can login to their Columbia Pws account to pay their Columbia water bill by clicking here.

Want to create a new account?

If you want to pay your Columbia Pws bill online and haven't made an account yet, you can create an account online. Please click here to create your account to pay your Columbia water bill.

Want to pay without an account?

If you don't want to make an account, or can't remember your account, you can make a one-time payment towards your Columbia water bill without creating an account using a one time payment portal with your account number and credit or debit card. Click here to make a one time payment.

HOW TO START & STOP COLUMBIA WATER SERVICE

Starting Your Service

Moving to a new house or apartment in Columbia means you will often need to put the water in your name with Columbia Pws. In order to put the water in your name, please click the link to the start service form below. Start service requests for water bills typically take two business days.

Start Service Form

Want to create a new account?

Leaving your house or apartment in Columbia means you will likely need to take your name off of the water bill with Columbia Pws. In order to take your name off the water bill, please click the link to the stop service form below. Stop service for water bills requests typically take two business days.

Stop Service Form

$2.5 in USD (1.5-liter)

Columbia tap water

Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 21% Low
Water Pollution 25% Low
Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 79% High
Water Quality 75% High

The above data is comprised of subjective, user submitted opinions about the water quality and pollution in Columbia, measured on a scale from 0% (lowest) to 100% (highest).

Columbia Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report)

The EPA mandates that towns and cities consistently monitor and test their tap water. They must report their findings in an annual Consumer Confidence Report. Below is the most recent water quality report from Columbia's Water. If you would like to see the original version of the report, please click here.

COLUMBIA PWS

Public Water System ID Number: MO3010181

2020 Annual Water Quality Report

(Consumer Confidence Report)

This report is intended to provide you with important information about your drinking water and the efforts made to provide safe drinking water.

Attencion!

Este informe contiene información muy importante. Tradúscalo o prequntele a alguien que lo entienda bien. [Translated: This report contains very important information. Translate or ask someone who understands this very well.]

What is the source of my water?

Our water comes from the following source(s):

	Source Name	Type
	WELL # 15	GROUND WATER
	WELL #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,	GROUND WATER
	16, 17 & 18	GROUND WATER
	16, 17 & 18
	ASH ST NEAR W ASHP PUMP STATION -	GROUND WATER
	ABANDON	GROUND WATER
	ABANDON
	CRUMP WELL	GROUND WATER
	WELL # 8 FAIRVIEW CHURCH WELL	GROUND WATER
	OLD WELL # 10 ROUTE TT KATY TRAIL WL	GROUND WATER
	EL RAY HEIGHTS	GROUND WATER
	BOONE CO # 1 BROWN SCHOOL RD - OTHER	GROUND WATER

Source Water Assessment

The Department of Natural Resources conducted a source water assessment to determine the susceptibility of our water source to potential contaminants. This process involved the establishment of source water area delineations for each well or surface water intake and then a contaminant inventory was performed within those delineated areas to assess potential threats to each source. Assessment maps and summary information sheets are available on the internet at http://drinkingwater.missouri.edu/swip/swipmaps/pwssid.htm . To access the maps for your water system you will need the State-assigned identification code, which is printed at the top of this report. The Source Water Inventory Project maps and information sheets provide a foundation upon which a more comprehensive source water protection plan can be developed. Why are there contaminants in my water?Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426- 4791).

Contaminants that may be present in source water include:A. Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. B. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally- occurring or result from urban stormwater runoff, industrial, or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.

C. Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential uses.

D. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, and septic systems.

E. Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Natural Resources prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Department of Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.

Is our water system meeting other rules that govern our operations?The Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulates our water system and requires us to test our water on a regular basis to ensure its safety. Our system has been assigned the identification number MO3010181 for the purposes of tracking our test results. Last year, we tested for a variety of contaminants. The detectable results of these tests are on the following pages of this report. Any violations of state requirements or standards will be further explained later in this report.

How might I become actively involved?If you would like to observe the decision-making process that affect drinking water quality or if you have any further questions about your drinking water report, please call us at 573-874-6242 to inquire about scheduled meetings or contact persons.

Do I need to take any special precautions?Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immunocompromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791).

Terms and Abbreviations

Population: 100733. This is the equivalent residential population served including non-bill paying customers.

90th percentile: For Lead and Copper testing. 10% of test results are above this level and 90% are below this level.

AL: Action Level, or the concentration of a contaminant which, when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.

HAA5: Haloacetic Acids (mono-, di- and tri-chloracetic acid, and mono- and di- bromoacetic acid) as a group.

LRAA: Locational Running Annual Average, or the locational average of sample analytical results for samples taken during the previous four calendar quarters.

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, or the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level, or the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

n/a: not applicable.

nd: not detectable at testing limits.

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit, used to measure cloudiness in drinking water.

ppb: parts per billion or micrograms per liter.

ppm: parts per million or milligrams per liter.

RAA: Running Annual Average, or the average of sample analytical results for samples taken during the previous four calendar quarters.

Range of Results: Shows the lowest and highest levels found during a testing period, if only one sample was taken, then this number equals the Highest Test Result or Highest Value.

SMCL: Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level, or the secondary standards that are non-enforceable guidelines for contaminants and may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor or color) in drinking water. EPA recommends these standards but does not require water systems to comply TT: Treatment Technique, or a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water.

TTHM: Total Trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) as a group.

April 27, 2021

COLUMBIA PWS

Public Water System ID Number: MO3010181

2020 Annual Water Quality Report

(Consumer Confidence Report)

Contaminants Report

COLUMBIA PWS will provide a printed hard copy of the CCR upon request. To request a copy of this report to be mailed,

please call us at 573-874-6242. The CCR can also be found on the internet at www.dnr.mo.gov/ccr/MO3010181.pdf.

The state has reduced monitoring requirements for certain contaminants to less often than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants are not expected to vary significantly from year to year. Records with a sample year more than one year old are still considered representative. No data older than 5 years need be included. If more than one sample is collected during the monitoring period, the Range of Sampled Results will show the lowest and highest tested results. The Highest Test Result, Highest LRAA, or Highest Value must be below the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or the contaminant has exceeded the level of health based standards and a violation is issued to the water system.

Regulated Contaminants

Highest

Range of

Regulated

Collection

Sampled

Test

Unit

MCL

MCLG

Typical Source

Contaminants

Date

Result(s)

Result

(low – high)

BARIUM

1/16/2018

0.118

ppm

Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from metal refineries;

Erosion of natural deposits

CHROMIUM

1/16/2018

1.12

ppb

100

Discharge from steel and pulp mills

FLUORIDE

1/16/2018

0.55

ppm

Natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth

NITRATE-

1/21/2020

0.027

ppm

Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage;

NITRITE

Erosion of natural deposits

Disinfection

Monitoring

Highest

Range of Sampled

Sample Point

Result(s)

Unit

MCL

MCLG

Typical Source

Byproducts

Period

LRAA

(low – high)

(HAA5)

DBPDUAL-01

2020

13.5 - 30.8

ppb