WaterVerge

Is Rushville, MO Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A-, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

2K residents served 1 water system PWSID: MO1024064
Overall Score
89.9 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Purchased ground water
#92 of 509 in Missouri Top 16% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
A-GRADE
Water Quality Grade
89.9/100
waterverge.com
A- 89.9/100

Rushville, MO — Water Quality Report

Rushville's drinking water received a grade of A- (89.9 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,115 residents using purchased ground water.

Lead levels were measured at 1.3 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 2 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

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

What to know about Rushville's water

Rushville ranks #92 out of 509 cities in Missouri for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Rushville purchases its water from a regional wholesaler, meaning quality depends on both the supplier's treatment and the local distribution system's condition.

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

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
89.9 out of 100 Grade A-
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.9/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 1.3 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
3/10
F
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Purchased ground water.
Water Safety

Is Rushville, MO water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Rushville's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A- (89.9/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 2,115 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
1.3 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Rushville

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

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Rushville's water quality assessment. Grade: A- (89.9/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Lead and Copper Rule.

Key contaminant findings

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

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 1.3 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Rushville's water system has 2 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved.

MR
Most recent violations:
Jun 1998 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jan 1995 Lead and Copper Rule Open

Where does Rushville's water come from?

Rushville's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 2,115 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Rushville 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.

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
1.3 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 9% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

2
Total violations
0
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Jun 1998
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

2 Total
1 Active
0 Health-based
1 Resolved
Violations by category
Total Coliform Rule
1
Lead and Copper Rule
1
Jan 1995 Active
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting 0
Jun 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jun 1998
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Rushville

Industrial polluters nearby

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

Total reported releases to surface water: 2 lbs

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
IATAN GENERATING STATION
Electric Utilities · EVERGY INC
WESTON, MO64098
Copper And Copper Compounds29.4 mi
MGPI PROCESSING INC.
Beverages · MGP INGREDIENTS INC
ATCHISON, KS66002
6.2 mi
PROGRESS RAIL- FASTENER DIV
Fabricated Metals · CATERPILLAR INC
ATCHISON, KS66002
7.4 mi
BRADKEN ATCHISON/ST JOSEPH
Primary Metals · BRADKEN INC
ATCHISON, KS66002
5.4 mi
WE MAC MANUFACTURING
Fabricated Metals · NA
ATCHISON, KS66002
7.6 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 1.3 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 1.3 ppb from 1994 (0.0 ppb) to 2024 (1.3 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Purchased Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
2,115
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Rushville's water comes from

Purchased Groundwater

Rushville purchases its water supply from a regional wholesale provider rather than treating raw water directly.

Water quality depends on both the wholesaler's treatment standards and the condition of Rushville's local distribution pipes and storage facilities.

Purchased water systems are common in suburban areas and smaller communities that lack the infrastructure for independent treatment.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,115 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Rushville

System Name PWSID Population Source
BUCHANAN COUNTY PWSD 1 MO1024064 2,115 GWP
Regional Comparison

How Rushville compares

Full Missouri rankings →

Rushville's score of 89.9/100 is above the average of 62/100 among major Missouri cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Rushville (this city)
89.9
St. Louis
40.9
Columbia
61.4
Missouri avg
62
City Profile

About Rushville, MO

Economic Profile
$54,028
Median Income
$39,090
Median Home Value
$614/mo
Median Rent
2.5%
Unemployment
Community
39.9
Median Age
323
People / sq mi
19.1%
College Educated
60.6%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Rushville, MO tap water safe to drink?

Rushville's water quality earned a grade of A- (89.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #92 out of 509 cities tested in Missouri.

What contaminants are in Rushville's water?

Lead was measured at 1.3 ppb (90th percentile). 2 violations are on record.

How is Rushville'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 Rushville?

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

Where does Rushville's water come from?

Rushville's water is sourced from Purchased ground water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 2,115 residents.

Is Rushville's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Rushville 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 2 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 Rushville's water compare to other cities?

Rushville ranks #92 out of 509 cities in Missouri (better than 82% of state cities) and #2506 out of 15744 cities nationally (84th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Rushville's small water system affect quality?

Rushville's system serves approximately 2,115 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 2 violations on record.