What was found in Poplar Bluff'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 | 1138.5 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 510 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1020 µg/L — CAMELOT ESTATES MHP · 75 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 70.65 µg/L 5.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 158.1 µg/L — W E SEARS YOUTH CENTER · 150 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 122.55 µg/L 153% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 101.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 75.98 µg/L 127% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 31.18 µg/L 1.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 46.61 µg/L — BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 · 12,000 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 41.42 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 35.895 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.925 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.915 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.35 µg/L — BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 · 12,000 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 14.8055 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 8.3425 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon And U | 4.73 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 15 pCi/L Highest in the city: BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 · 12,000 people · 2016 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.0035 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.123 µg/L — BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 · 12,000 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2.65 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 · 12,000 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.882 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.74032 µg/L 5.8% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 · 12,000 people · 2016 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: W E SEARS YOUTH CENTER · 150 people · 2012 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.6140 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0012 mg/L 8.1% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: POPLAR BLUFF PWS · 17,043 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0023 mg/L — W E SEARS YOUTH CENTER · 150 people · 2024 | 4/4 | 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 Poplar Bluff
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| POPLAR BLUFF PWS | 17,043 |
| BUTLER COUNTY PWSD 1 | 12,000 |
| W E SEARS YOUTH CENTER | 150 |
| CAMELOT ESTATES MHP | 75 |
Frequently asked questions about Poplar Bluff tap water
Is Poplar Bluff tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Poplar Bluff. 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 Poplar Bluff?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Poplar Bluff, Missouri to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Poplar Bluff's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Poplar Bluff include Fluoride, Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.