Lithium Contamination

Lithium in Missouri Drinking Water

Ranked by max lithium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 5 data (2023–2025) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

107

Cities Tested

107

Detected

100%

% Detected

51.1 µg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

426

Health Violations

Analysis

Lithium in Missouri: what the data shows

Missouri has 107 cities with lithium data from the EPA's UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). Lithium was detected in 107 of those cities. There is currently no federal MCL or health advisory for lithium — the state average max detected level is 51.1 µg/L. Nationally, lithium is detected in roughly 28% of sampled water systems. Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in arid western states, and is concentrated in some surface waters near industrial discharge or geothermal sources. UCMR 5 added lithium monitoring in 2023, providing the first systematic national snapshot of public-water lithium levels. At therapeutic doses (administered as a medication), lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Chronic low-dose exposure from drinking water has been associated in some studies with effects on thyroid function and possibly mood. The most protective state guidance value is around 60 µg/L. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange are effective removal methods.

Comparison

Cities exceeding No federal MCL or HA

Missouri

100%

107 of 107 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

2808 of 2808 cities

City Map

Lithium data across Missouri

Each dot is a city with UCMR 5 lithium testing data. Detected cities are shown — there is no federal limit, though some states use 60 µg/L as a screening level. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lithium level in Missouri

Highest Lithium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Missouri cities ranked by lithium level

#	City	Level	Detected?	Violations	Grade
1	Troy	251.0 µg/L	Detected	87	F
2	Yuma	210.0 µg/L	Detected	99	F
3	Mexico	146.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
4	Winfield	132.0 µg/L	Detected	35	B-
5	Warrensburg	130.0 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
6	St. Joseph	114.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
7	St. Joseph	114.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
8	St. Joseph	114.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
9	St. Joseph	114.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
10	St. Joseph	114.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
11	Hallsville	110.0 µg/L	Detected	2	A
12	Raymoor	103.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A
13	Nevada	98.2 µg/L	Detected	12	A-
14	El Dorado Spgs.	96.0 µg/L	Detected	13	A
15	Jefferson City	92.7 µg/L	Detected	19	B+
16	Parkville	91.8 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
17	Centralia	91.0 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
18	Dexter	88.7 µg/L	Detected	3	A-
19	Chesterfield	86.8 µg/L	Detected	11	B-
20	Malden	80.3 µg/L	Detected	9	A-
21	Warrenton	77.6 µg/L	Detected	25	D+
22	O Fallon	71.3 µg/L	Detected	10	F
23	Columbia	68.8 µg/L	Detected	52	C
24	Lamar	64.0 µg/L	Detected	27	B
25	Wright City	62.7 µg/L	Detected	14	C
26	House Springs	60.0 µg/L	Detected	7	B+
27	Kansas City	58.6 µg/L	Detected	1	B
28	Fulton	58.4 µg/L	Detected	13	B+
29	Campbell	57.0 µg/L	Detected	9	B
30	Lees Summit	56.7 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
31	Kearney	55.0 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
32	Pleasant Hill	55.0 µg/L	Detected	4	B+
33	Platte City	54.0 µg/L	Detected	9	B
34	Belton	53.7 µg/L	Detected	5	B-
35	Blue Springs	53.6 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
36	St. Peters	53.1 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
37	Waldron	53.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
38	Greenwood	52.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A-
39	Peculiar	50.0 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
40	Wentzville	48.4 µg/L	Detected	9	A-
41	Kirkwood	47.9 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
42	Philadelphia	47.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
43	N. Kansas City	47.0 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
44	Gladstone	46.8 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
45	Savannah	46.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A
46	Clarksdale	46.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
47	St. Louis	45.3 µg/L	Detected	28	F
48	St. Charles	45.1 µg/L	Detected	0	B+
49	Cosby	45.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A+
50	Odessa	44.0 µg/L	Detected	14	A
51	Lake Lotawana	44.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A
52	Anderson	44.0 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
53	Oak Grove	43.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A
54	Sibley	43.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
55	Raytown	41.5 µg/L	Detected	2	B+
56	Harrisonville	41.0 µg/L	Detected	14	A-
57	Pevely	40.7 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
58	Independence	40.1 µg/L	Detected	0	B
59	Holts Summit	40.1 µg/L	Detected	17	B
60	Grain Valley	38.6 µg/L	Detected	1	A
61	Des Peres	38.5 µg/L	Detected	2149	F
62	Grandview	37.3 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
63	Hayti	35.5 µg/L	Detected	2	C+
64	Hayti	35.5 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
65	Boonville	33.9 µg/L	Detected	46	C
66	Caruthersville	33.3 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
67	Carl Junction	33.0 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
68	Perryville	32.0 µg/L	Detected	51	F
69	Liberty	31.8 µg/L	Detected	8	C+
70	Crystal City	31.0 µg/L	Detected	6	A
71	Holden	29.6 µg/L	Detected	8	A
72	Whiteman Afb	29.0 µg/L	Detected	2	A
73	Bethany	28.8 µg/L	Detected	22	B-
74	Joplin	27.1 µg/L	Detected	53	F
75	De Soto	27.0 µg/L	Detected	22	B-
76	Ashland	26.0 µg/L	Detected	12	A-
77	Waynesville	25.0 µg/L	Detected	6	C+
78	Higginsville	25.0 µg/L	Detected	17	B+
79	Pilot Grove	24.8 µg/L	Detected	2	A+
80	Polo	24.2 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
81	Knox City	24.0 µg/L	Detected	1	B+
82	Excelsior Spgs.	23.8 µg/L	Detected	3	B+
83	Holt	23.0 µg/L	Detected	4	A
84	Lexington	22.4 µg/L	Detected	19	B+
85	Polo	22.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A
86	Herculaneum	22.0 µg/L	Detected	7	A
87	Glasgow	22.0 µg/L	Detected	3	B
88	Jackson	19.5 µg/L	Detected	72	C+
89	Ste. Genevieve	19.4 µg/L	Detected	20	B
90	Webb City	19.1 µg/L	Detected	8	A-
91	Festus	19.1 µg/L	Detected	20	C
92	Chillicothe	18.0 µg/L	Detected	2	A-
93	Bowling Green	16.0 µg/L	Detected	7	B+
94	Carrollton	16.0 µg/L	Detected	1	A-
95	Republic	15.8 µg/L	Detected	5	A-
96	Hannibal	14.2 µg/L	Detected	34	C+
97	Sedalia	14.0 µg/L	Detected	60	F
98	Marshall	13.8 µg/L	Detected	33	B-
99	Scott City	12.6 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
100	Carthage	12.0 µg/L	Detected	21	D+
101	Lake Ozark	11.7 µg/L	Detected	14	D
102	Springfield	10.7 µg/L	Detected	59	F
103	Mound City	10.7 µg/L	Detected	0	A-
104	Cape Girardeau	10.3 µg/L	Detected	127	D
105	Hillsboro	10.0 µg/L	Detected	37	D+
106	Mercer	9.6 µg/L	Detected	18	D+
107	Battlefield	9.4 µg/L	Detected	11	A-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lithium in Missouri

Is lithium in Missouri tap water harmful?

Lithium has no federal MCL or health advisory. Some state agencies use 60 µg/L as a screening level. 107 cities in Missouri had detectable lithium in UCMR 5 testing. Therapeutic lithium doses (used to treat bipolar disorder) are far higher than typical drinking-water levels, but chronic low-level exposure has been studied for potential thyroid and mood effects.

Where does lithium in tap water come from?

Lithium occurs naturally in groundwater, especially in arid western states with lithium-bearing geology (parts of Nevada, California, North Carolina, Texas). It can also enter water from industrial sources such as battery manufacturing, ceramics, and lithium-mining wastewater. Geothermal hot springs are another natural source.

How can I remove lithium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis is highly effective at removing lithium, typically reducing it by 90% or more. Ion exchange systems and distillation also work well. Standard activated carbon filters are NOT effective against lithium. If you rely on a private well in a lithium-rich geological area, consider testing.

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