WaterVerge

Is Cabool, MO Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 2 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: MO4010120
Overall Score
88.8 / 100
Violations
2 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#123 of 509 in Missouri Top 21% nationally
Local Government
High data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
88.8/100
waterverge.com
A- 88.8/100

Cabool, MO — Water Quality Report

Cabool's drinking water received a grade of A- (88.8 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,146 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 3.2 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 4 violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 2 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Cabool's water

Cabool ranks #123 out of 509 cities in Missouri for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Cabool relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Cabool may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
88.8 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.3/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
18/20
A
Lead at 3.2 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
18.5/20
A
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
3/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Cabool, MO water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Cabool's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (88.8/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,146 residents using groundwater (wells).

2
Active Violations
3.2 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
5 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Cabool

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Cabool's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (88.8/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Groundwater Rule.

Disaster
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4317). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Disaster
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4250). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Consumer Confidence Rule.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Cabool's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 3.2 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Cabool's water system has 4 total violations on record, including 1 health-based violation. 2 remain unresolved.

MROtherMCL
Most recent violations:
Jan 2020 Groundwater Rule Resolved
Jul 2006 Consumer Confidence Rule Open
Jun 2003 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Texas County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1993. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4317
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4250
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-3374

Where does Cabool's water come from?

Cabool's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 2,146 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Cabool residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Flush your taps

Run cold water for 30 seconds before drinking, especially in the morning. Lead and copper leach from household plumbing when water sits in pipes.

Monitor alerts during storms

Cabool's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
3.2 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 21% of limit
Safe Level
HAA5 (Disinfection Byproducts)
Disinfection Byproduct
Safe
0.1 µg/L
EPA MCL: 60 µg/L · 0% of limit
Within LimitUCMR 4 DataHAA6Br: 0.0 µg/LHAA9: 0.1 µg/L
Compliance Record

Violation summary

4
Total violations
1
Health-based
2
Active / unresolved
Jan 2020
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

4 Total
2 Active
1 Health-based
2 Resolved
Violations by category
Ground Water Rule
1
Consumer Confidence Rule
1
Total Coliform Rule
1
Jul 2006 Active
Consumer Confidence Rule
Other Violation 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Jan 2020 Resolved
Groundwater Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jan 2020
Jun 2003 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jun 2003
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Cabool

Industrial polluters nearby

Reported releases to surface water by facilities near Cabool, ranked by pounds discharged annually.

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA INC
Beverages · DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA INC
CABOOL, MO65689
0.6 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

5
Declared disasters
Jun 2017
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Texas County has experienced 5 federally declared disasters since 1993. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Jun 2017
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4317
Jan 2016
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4250
Jan 2016
SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #3374
Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Hurricane FEMA #3232
Jul 1993
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #995

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 3.2 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has increased by 3.2 ppb from 1993 (0.0 ppb) to 2024 (3.2 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
2,146
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Cabool's water comes from

Groundwater

Cabool's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,146 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Cabool

System Name PWSID Population Source
CABOOL PWS MO4010120 2,146 GW
Regional Comparison

How Cabool compares

Full Missouri rankings →

Cabool's score of 88.8/100 is above the average of 62/100 among major Missouri cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Cabool (this city)
88.8
St. Louis
40.9
Columbia
61.4
Missouri avg
62
City Profile

About Cabool, MO

Wikipedia →

Cabool is a city in Texas County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,946 at the 2020 census.

Economic Profile
$33,429
Median Income
$99,266
Median Home Value
$607/mo
Median Rent
2.4%
Unemployment
Community
38.7
Median Age
252
People / sq mi
18.8%
College Educated
59.5%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Cabool, MO tap water safe to drink?

Cabool's water quality earned a grade of A- (88.8/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #123 out of 509 cities tested in Missouri.

What contaminants are in Cabool's water?

Lead was measured at 3.2 ppb (90th percentile). 4 violations are on record.

How is Cabool'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 Cabool?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Cabool's water come from?

Cabool's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,146 residents.

What health violations has Cabool's water system had?

Cabool has 1 health-based violation on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2020. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.

Is Cabool's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Cabool uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 4 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Cabool's water compare to other cities?

Cabool ranks #123 out of 509 cities in Missouri (better than 76% of state cities) and #3239 out of 15744 cities nationally (79th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Cabool's small water system affect quality?

Cabool's system serves approximately 2,146 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 4 violations on record.