What was found in Festus'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 | 1040 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 653 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 229.5 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY PWSD 12 · 3,300 people · 2017 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 76.86999999999998 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 186.5 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY PWSD 12 · 3,300 people · 2017 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 73.1 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 36.214999999999996 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 31.975 µg/L 53% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 35.279999999999994 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 25.099999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 16.48 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 19.15 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 19.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 15.075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.11 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 11.71 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.540000000000001 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.265499999999999 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.978499999999986 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY PWSD 12 · 3,300 people · 2017 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5.69 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.733999999999997 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 5.97 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CRYSTAL COVE MHP · 40 people · 2017 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.9475 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.635 pCi/L 93% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: VALLE ACRES MHP · 11 people · 2016 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.0540000000000003 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.7975 µg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.1 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY PWSD 12 · 3,300 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 1.08 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.6675 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY · 25 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0092 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: FESTUS PWS · 13,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0032 mg/L — JEFFERSON COUNTY PWSD 12 · 3,300 people · 2023 | 4/5 | 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 Festus
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| FESTUS PWS | 13,000 |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY PWSD 12 | 3,300 |
| CRYSTAL COVE MHP | 40 |
| JEFFERSON COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY | 25 |
| VALLE ACRES MHP | 11 |
Frequently asked questions about Festus tap water
Is Festus tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Festus. 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 Festus?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Festus, Missouri to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Festus's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Festus include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Barium, Copper, 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.