01The verdict: is Sunrise Beach water safe?
Sunrise Beach's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of D+ (53.7/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 6 water systems serve approximately 1,398 residents using groundwater (wells).
47 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 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓17 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 ↓Sunrise Beach's drinking water received a grade of D+ (53.7 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 6 water systems serve approximately 1,398 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 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 105 violations on record, including 15 health-based violations. 47 remain unresolved.
Sunrise Beach ranks #442 out of 487 cities in Missouri for water quality, placing it among the lowest-rated in the state. Sunrise Beach 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, Sunrise Beach may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 17 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Sunrise Beach's water
Every contaminant flagged in Sunrise Beach, 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. | 0.0 | 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
03Sunrise Beach'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 105 violations on record, including 15 health-based violations. 47 remain unresolved.
1 of the last ten years was clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 0 ppb since 1993. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2024) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Sunrise Beach's water comes from
Sunrise Beach's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
6 systems
6 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
1,398 people
Residents served across Sunrise Beach's service area.
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 1,398 people through 6 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNRISE BEACH VILLAGE OF PWS | MO5031591 | 812 | Groundwater |
| MILLSTONE LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS | MO5301457 | 400 | Groundwater |
| SOUTHWAY TERRACE MHP | MO3048141 | 75 | Groundwater |
| GOLDEN GLADE WATER SYSTEM | MO3031299 | 50 | Groundwater |
| SPRING VALLEY APARTMENTS | MO3079511 | 36 | Groundwater |
| GREEN ACRES MHP | MO5031533 | 25 | Groundwater |
05Pressure on Sunrise Beach'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.
Industrial discharge
1 facility within 10 miles reported 0 lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
5 federal disaster declarations on record for Camden County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Sunrise Beach compares
Scores for nearby Missouri cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Missouri average (67/100)
Sunrise Beach scores 53.7/100 — below the Missouri average of 67/100. It outscores 3 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 Sunrise Beach's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Sunrise Beach'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 Sunrise Beach 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 Sunrise Beach, MO tap water safe to drink?
Sunrise Beach's water quality earned a grade of D+ (53.7/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #442 out of 487 cities tested in Missouri.
What contaminants are in Sunrise Beach's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 105 violations are on record.
How is Sunrise Beach'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 Sunrise Beach?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Sunrise Beach's water come from?
Sunrise Beach's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 6 water systems serving approximately 1,398 residents.
What health violations has Sunrise Beach's water system had?
Sunrise Beach has 15 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in July 2025. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 47 violations remain unresolved.
Is Sunrise Beach's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Sunrise Beach 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 105 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 Sunrise Beach's water compare to other cities?
Sunrise Beach ranks #442 out of 487 cities in Missouri (better than 9% of state cities) and #12445 out of 15382 cities nationally (19th percentile). The grade of D+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.