What was found in Cape Girardeau's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 226.5 µg/L 2.3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3600 µg/L — ROYAL LAKE ESTATES · 52 people · 2019 | 10/12 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 855 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 1739 µg/L — CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY PWSD 5 · 485 people · 2018 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 104.29 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1243 µg/L — ROYAL LAKE ESTATES · 52 people · 2019 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 264.75 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2017 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 59.356 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2017 | 10/12 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 56.9 µg/L 71% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 41.17 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 34.39 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 32.35 pCi/L 216% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: WESTLAKE MEADOWS SUBDIVISION · 50 people · 2016 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 17.925 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4.54 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 15.525 µg/L — ROYAL LAKE ESTATES · 52 people · 2019 | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 15.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 14.28 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 10.902 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.77 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 10.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2025 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 8.7 pCi/L 174% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: WESTLAKE MEADOWS SUBDIVISION · 50 people · 2019 | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 8.6985 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.8275 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2019 | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.1095 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2017 | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.075 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY PWSD 5 · 485 people · 2018 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2800 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: WESTLAKE MEADOWS SUBDIVISION · 50 people · 2017 | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0126 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2025 | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0036 mg/L 24% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS · 39,941 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0092 mg/L — ROYAL LAKE ESTATES · 52 people · 2025 | 12/12 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Cape Girardeau
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CAPE GIRARDEAU PWS | 39,941 |
| CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY PWSD 2 | 2,913 |
| CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY PWSD 5 | 485 |
| PARKWOOD ESTATES LLC | 350 |
| WINDWOOD ESTATES SUBD | 170 |
| NORTH HILLS ESTATES | 150 |
| MID AMERICA TEEN CHALLENGE | 135 |
| ENCLAVE APTS & AFFORDABLE MINI STORAGE | 92 |
| ROYAL LAKE ESTATES | 52 |
| WESTLAKE MEADOWS SUBDIVISION | 50 |
| WINFIELD POINTE ESTATES | 33 |
| UPPER BEND ROAD SUBDIVISION | 28 |
Frequently asked questions about Cape Girardeau tap water
Is Cape Girardeau tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Cape Girardeau. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Cape Girardeau?
12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Cape Girardeau, Missouri to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Cape Girardeau's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Cape Girardeau include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Chromium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.