Springfield
Springfield, MO water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
springfield pws
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID MO5010754
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Springfield, MO is a mid-sized city, with a population near 166,810 and the 3rd-largest community in Missouri. Like much of Missouri, Springfield draws its water primarily from Missouri River, Mississippi River, and Ozark aquifer.
Springfield's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Missouri. Major rivers provide ample supply; aging systems are the main vulnerability.
Springfield sits in a state that reuses roughly 4% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences abnormally dry to moderate drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Missouri state water profile and the related issues below.
Greene County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~166,810 (3rd-largest in Missouri)
- Primary sources: Missouri River, Mississippi River, and Ozark aquifer
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~4% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Missouri in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Springfield?
Springfield's largest water system, SPRINGFIELD PWS, serves about 210,898 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 5.1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Springfield get its water?
SPRINGFIELD PWS draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Missouri's supply from Missouri River, Mississippi River, Ozark aquifer.
Related water issues
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.
Explore