Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Missouri Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

135

Cities Tested

135

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

8.4 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

405

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Missouri: what the data shows

Missouri has 135 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 135 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Missouri

100%

135 of 135 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

7727 of 7727 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Missouri

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Missouri

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Missouri cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Des Peres	514 violations	Yes	2149	F
2	Aurora	38 violations	Yes	90	D
3	Yuma	35 violations	Yes	99	F
4	Kimberling City	31 violations	Yes	110	D
5	Salome	20 violations	Yes	11	D+
6	Ocala	18 violations	Yes	9	F
7	Bunn	16 violations	Yes	38	F
8	Peeples Valley	16 violations	Yes	11	C
9	Catalina	15 violations	Yes	0	A-
10	Peeples Valley	15 violations	Yes	4	B
11	Warsaw	14 violations	Yes	60	F
12	Branson	12 violations	Yes	70	D
13	Reeds Spring	12 violations	Yes	54	D
14	Benton	12 violations	Yes	11	F
15	Camdenton	11 violations	Yes	73	F
16	Branson West	11 violations	Yes	47	D
17	Forsyth	10 violations	Yes	27	D
18	Blue Eye	10 violations	Yes	43	D
19	Tonto Village	10 violations	Yes	2	C-
20	Tonto Village	10 violations	Yes	2	C-
21	Union	9 violations	Yes	56	D
22	Sullivan	9 violations	Yes	40	D
23	Shell Knob	9 violations	Yes	60	D
24	Festus	8 violations	Yes	20	C
25	Cape Girardeau	7 violations	Yes	127	D
26	Carthage	7 violations	Yes	21	D+
27	Hollister	7 violations	Yes	46	D
28	Stockton	7 violations	Yes	49	D
29	Gadsden	7 violations	Yes	3	B-
30	Gadsden	7 violations	Yes	3	B-
31	Joplin	6 violations	Yes	53	F
32	Sedalia	6 violations	Yes	60	F
33	Osage Beach	6 violations	Yes	30	D
34	Mountain Grove	6 violations	Yes	20	C+
35	Ava	6 violations	Yes	16	C
36	Galena	6 violations	Yes	31	C-
37	Clifton	6 violations	Yes	35	D
38	Rogersville	5 violations	Yes	47	D
39	Sunrise Beach	5 violations	Yes	15	D+
40	Knightdale	5 violations	Yes	22	B
41	Springfield	4 violations	Yes	59	F
42	Jackson	4 violations	Yes	72	C+
43	Boonville	4 violations	Yes	46	C
44	Bunn	4 violations	Yes	17	C+
45	St. Robert	4 violations	Yes	19	D
46	Cornville	4 violations	Yes	1	B-
47	Ozark	3 violations	Yes	65	F
48	Platte City	3 violations	Yes	9	B
49	Hillsboro	3 violations	Yes	37	D+
50	Perryville	3 violations	Yes	51	F
51	House Springs	3 violations	Yes	7	B+
52	Pacific	3 violations	Yes	47	D
53	Senath	3 violations	Yes	11	D
54	Owensville	3 violations	Yes	21	C-
55	Merriam Woods	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
56	Salome	3 violations	Yes	2	B-
57	Fordland	3 violations	Yes	10	B-
58	Vienna	3 violations	Yes	14	B
59	Quartzsite	3 violations	Yes	4	B
60	Clarkton	3 violations	Yes	10	B+
61	Melbourne Beach	3 violations	Yes	8	B
62	Bertrand	3 violations	Yes	10	C
63	Chesterfield	2 violations	Yes	11	B-
64	Rolla	2 violations	Yes	32	D
65	Farmington	2 violations	Yes	251	D
66	Waynesville	2 violations	Yes	6	C+
67	Neosho	2 violations	Yes	21	C-
68	Park Hills	2 violations	Yes	50	D+
69	Marshfield	2 violations	Yes	27	D+
70	Bonne Terre	2 violations	Yes	111	C+
71	Knob Noster	2 violations	Yes	3	A
72	Van Buren	2 violations	Yes	3	B
73	Gordonville	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
74	Roach	2 violations	Yes	31	B-
75	Crane	2 violations	Yes	7	C
76	Pierce City	2 violations	Yes	8	B
77	Puxico	2 violations	Yes	3	A
78	Umatilla	2 violations	Yes	1	A
79	Heber	2 violations	Yes	0	B-
80	Walnut Grove	2 violations	Yes	7	B-
81	Belleview	2 violations	Yes	16	C+
82	Otterville	2 violations	Yes	22	B+
83	Kansas City	1 violations	Yes	1	B
84	Nixa	1 violations	Yes	33	C
85	Maryville	1 violations	Yes	21	C+
86	Kearney	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
87	Holden	1 violations	Yes	8	A
88	Smithville	1 violations	Yes	16	A
89	Higginsville	1 violations	Yes	17	B+
90	Beverly Hills	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
91	Villa Ridge	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
92	Brookfield	1 violations	Yes	20	A-
93	Hayti	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
94	Willard	1 violations	Yes	16	A-
95	Bethany	1 violations	Yes	22	B-
96	Salem	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
97	Mount Vernon	1 violations	Yes	15	D
98	Linn	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
99	Houston	1 violations	Yes	27	B-
100	St. James	1 violations	Yes	24	B-
101	Potosi	1 violations	Yes	109	C+
102	Holt	1 violations	Yes	4	A
103	Portageville	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
104	Windsor	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
105	Strafford	1 violations	Yes	9	A
106	Gideon	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
107	Concordia	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
108	Plattsburg	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
109	Elsberry	1 violations	Yes	14	B-
110	Stanberry	1 violations	Yes	45	C+
111	Richland	1 violations	Yes	11	A-
112	Bourbon	1 violations	Yes	14	B+
113	Marble Hill	1 violations	Yes	15	B+
114	Fair Grove	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
115	Sarcoxie	1 violations	Yes	4	B
116	Ash Grove	1 violations	Yes	7	B+
117	Highlandville	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
118	Sweet Springs	1 violations	Yes	14	B+
119	Ludlow	1 violations	Yes	0	A
120	Archie	1 violations	Yes	34	C
121	Dixon	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
122	Wellsville	1 violations	Yes	70	B
123	Leadwood	1 violations	Yes	54	C+
124	Summerfield	1 violations	Yes	0	A
125	New Franklin	1 violations	Yes	22	B+
126	Jacksonville	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
127	Ormond Beach	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
128	Ocklawaha	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
129	Wappapello	1 violations	Yes	12	D+
130	Jasper	1 violations	Yes	4	A
131	Morehouse	1 violations	Yes	11	C
132	Fairfax	1 violations	Yes	0	A+
133	Bolivar	1 violations	Yes	31	B
134	Jamesport	1 violations	Yes	13	A
135	Martinsburg	1 violations	Yes	2	C

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Missouri

Is nitrate in Missouri tap water dangerous?

Yes — 135 cities in Missouri have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Missouri water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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