Missouri
Missouri sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Missouri River, Mississippi River, and Ozark aquifer. With roughly 6.2 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 4% of its treated wastewater.
Missouriwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Missouri
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Groundwater Rule | 140 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 122 |
| TTHM | 113 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | 52 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 25 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | 23 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Major rivers provide ample supply; aging systems are the main vulnerability.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Missouri currently tracks around abnormally dry to moderate conditions. Missouri has 1,679 community water systems serving about 6 million people; EPA records show 440 of them (26.2%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Missouri in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 151 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 8.4 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 20.6%
- Irrigation share
- 16.3%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~4%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Missouri River
- ≈ Mississippi River
- ≈ Ozark aquifer
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Missouri?
Missouri has 1,679 community water systems serving about 6 million people. EPA records show 440 of them (26.2%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 8 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Missouri's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Groundwater Rule, Revised Total Coliform Rule, TTHM.
How much water does Missouri use per person?
Public water systems in Missouri withdraw about 151 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 20.6% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Missouri?
As of 2026-06-09, 14.2% of Missouri is in drought (D1+) and 4.7% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Missouri
14 trackedKansas City
Kansas City, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
St. Louis
St. Louis, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Springfield
Springfield, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Columbia
Columbia, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Independence
Independence, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
East Independence
East Independence, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lee's Summit
Lee's Summit, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
O'Fallon
O'Fallon, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Saint Charles
Saint Charles, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Blue Springs
Blue Springs, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Saint Peters
Saint Peters, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Missouri
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
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