What was found in Columbia'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 631 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1515 µg/L — BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 89.62 µg/L 6.9% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 245.4 µg/L — UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA · 40,000 people · 2018 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 122.5 µg/L 6.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 187.7 µg/L — BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 21.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 68.8 µg/L — BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2024 | 4/6 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 62.43 µg/L 78% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 37 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 50 µg/L — UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA · 40,000 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 29.86 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 25.81 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20.355 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 17 pCi/L 113% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 15.135 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 14.16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 6.945 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.595 µg/L — BOONE COUNTY PWSD 9 · 15,035 people · 2018 | 6/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 12.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.78 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 6.236 µg/L — BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5.885 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.552 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.44 pCi/L 69% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.102 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.366 µg/L — BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.1 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.6200 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 · 24,700 people · 2018 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0021 mg/L 14% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES · 126,254 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0054 mg/L — GREEN HILLS MHP · 195 people · 2024 | 6/6 | 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 Columbia
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF COLUMBIA UTILITIES | 126,254 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA | 40,000 |
| BOONE COUNTY CONS PWSD 1 | 24,700 |
| BOONE COUNTY PWSD 9 | 15,035 |
| KUHLE H20 | 450 |
| GREEN HILLS MHP | 195 |
Frequently asked questions about Columbia tap water
Is Columbia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Columbia. 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 Columbia?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Columbia, Missouri to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Columbia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Columbia include Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Lithium, TTHM. 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.