Community Water System · PWS MO4010853
West Plains PWS
West Plains, Missouri 65775-0000 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 12,864 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.
- 12,864
- People served
- 45
- EPA violations
- 28
- Health-based
- 1 PFAS
- UCMR5 result
The verdict
EPA records 45 drinking-water violations at West Plains PWS, 62% of them health-based - below the Missouri per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.
- 45
- Total EPA violations on record
- 62%
- Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
- 12,864
- People served by this system
- 1
- PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)
Water Quality Snapshot: West Plains PWS
West Plains PWS is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 12,864 residents in West Plains, Missouri (Howell County) through 5,822 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 45 total violations for this system , of which 28 (62%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 13 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.
The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 13 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 3.2 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.
Across Missouri, EPA tracks 2,823 public water systems serving 5,855,885 people, with 201,695 cumulative violations and 54,821 health-based violations on record. About 95% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 71.4 violations. Statewide, 162 of 230 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (70.4%).
West Plains PWS's 45 violations sit below the Missouri average.
All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.
1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.
System Details
- System Type
- Community
- Owner Type
- Local
- Connections
- 5,822
- County
- Howell
- School/Daycare
- No
- MCL Violations
- 11
- Monitoring Violations
- 13
- Treatment Tech Violations
- 17
Violation History
Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.
| Contaminant | Category | Count | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform (TCR) | MR | 13 | 2012 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 12 | 2021 |
| Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 9 | 2001 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 5 | 2023 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2 | 2023 |
| Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL | 1 | 1999 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MCL | 1 | 1999 |
PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)
Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 116 samples detected PFAS.
| Contaminant | Date | Result | MRL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFNA | 9/25/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTrDA | 9/25/2024 | <7.00 ppt | 7.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 9/25/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 9/25/2024 | 3.20 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Detected |
| NMeFOSAA | 9/25/2024 | <6.00 ppt | 6.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeS | 9/25/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 9/25/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 9/25/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 8:2 FTS | 9/25/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NFDHA | 9/25/2024 | <20.00 ppt | 20.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| NEtFOSAA | 9/25/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 9/25/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpS | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 9/25/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 9/25/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 9/25/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 9/25/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 9/25/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 9/25/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 9/25/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMPA | 6/11/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxS | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFUnA | 6/11/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHxA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFDoA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOA | 6/11/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFNA | 6/11/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFHpA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBS | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFEESA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 11Cl-PF3OUdS | 6/11/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFPeA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFTA | 6/11/2024 | <8.00 ppt | 8.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFMBA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 9Cl-PF3ONS | 6/11/2024 | <2.00 ppt | 2.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| ADONA | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| HFPO-DA | 6/11/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFBA | 6/11/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 6:2 FTS | 6/11/2024 | <5.00 ppt | 5.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| 4:2 FTS | 6/11/2024 | <3.00 ppt | 3.00 ppt | Not Detected |
| PFOS | 6/11/2024 | <4.00 ppt | 4.00 ppt | Not Detected |
Verify This Water System
The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for West Plains PWS.
EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports
EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:
View PWS ID MO4010853 on SDWISSource: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search
Missouri Drinking Water Authority
Missouri DNR, Public Drinking Water Branch is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects West Plains PWS under EPA-delegated authority.
Open MO regulator portalViolation Timeline
Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.
| Year (latest) | Contaminant | Category | Count | EPA Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 5 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 0300 |
| 2023 | Consumer Confidence Rule | Other | 2 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 7000 |
| 2021 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | TT | 12 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 0200 |
| 2012 | Coliform (TCR) | MR | 13 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 3100 |
| 2001 | Coliform (TCR) | MCL | 9 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 3100 |
| 1999 | Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U | MCL | 1 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 4000 |
| 1999 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | MCL | 1 | SDWIS / MO4010853 / 4010 |
How West Plains PWS Compares
Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.
| Metric | West Plains PWS | Missouri avg | Federal benchmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total violations | 45 | 71.4 | SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach |
| Health-based violations | 28 | 19.4 | Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL |
| PFAS detection | 1 compound | 70.4% | EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt |
| Population served | 12,864 | 2,074 | Sizing context for compliance burden |
Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 2,823 regulated public water systems in Missouri.
Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
| Contaminant | Federal MCL / Action Level | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) | Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique |
| Arsenic | 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) | Health-based MCL since 2006 |
| Total Coliform | Treatment technique (RTCR) | Indicator organism, monitoring trigger |
| PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) | 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) | Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026) |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10 mg/L | Acute health risk for infants |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Plains PWS water safe to drink? ▼
How many people does West Plains PWS serve? ▼
What type of violations does West Plains PWS have? ▼
Has PFAS been detected in West Plains PWS water? ▼
What water source does West Plains PWS use? ▼
Where does this data come from? ▼
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.