01The verdict: is Appleton City water safe?
Appleton City's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B+ (82/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,518 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
7 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 1.6 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓2 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Appleton City's drinking water received a grade of B+ (82 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,518 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 1.6 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 47 violations on record, including 11 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.
Appleton City ranks #288 out of 487 cities in Missouri for water quality, placing it below average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Appleton City may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Appleton City's water
Every contaminant flagged in Appleton City, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 1.6 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Missouri
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Missouri
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Appleton City's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 47 violations on record, including 11 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▲ Up 1.6 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 1.6 ppb (2024) — 11% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Appleton City's water comes from
Appleton City's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,518 people
Residents served across Appleton City's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,518 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| APPLETON CITY PWS | MO5010020 | 1,518 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Appleton City
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Appleton City's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Appleton City's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
5 federal disaster declarations on record for St. Clair County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Appleton City compares
Scores for nearby Missouri cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Missouri average (67/100)
Appleton City scores 82/100 — above the Missouri average of 67/100. It outscores 7 of 10 nearby cities. Full Missouri rankings →
74.8 / 100BKansas City, MO
79.2 / 100FSpringfield, MO
37.1 / 100CColumbia, MO
61.4 / 100FO Fallon, MO
43.4 / 100FDes Peres, MO
36.6 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Appleton City's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Appleton City's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Appleton City alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Appleton City, MO tap water safe to drink?
Appleton City's water quality earned a grade of B+ (82/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #288 out of 487 cities tested in Missouri.
What contaminants are in Appleton City's water?
Lead was measured at 1.6 ppb (90th percentile). 47 violations are on record.
How is Appleton City's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Appleton City?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Appleton City's water come from?
Appleton City's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,518 residents.
What health violations has Appleton City's water system had?
Appleton City has 11 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in September 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 7 violations remain unresolved.
How does Appleton City's water compare to other cities?
Appleton City ranks #288 out of 487 cities in Missouri (better than 41% of state cities) and #7137 out of 15382 cities nationally (54th percentile). The grade of B+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Appleton City's small water system affect quality?
Appleton City's system serves approximately 1,518 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 47 violations on record.