Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Missouri Drinking Water

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

148

Cities Tested

148

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

8.1 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

426

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Missouri: what the data shows

Missouri has 148 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 148 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%

148 of 148 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 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	White Hills	13 violations	Yes	29	D
13	Branson	12 violations	Yes	70	D
14	Reeds Spring	12 violations	Yes	54	D
15	Benton	12 violations	Yes	11	F
16	Camdenton	11 violations	Yes	73	F
17	Branson West	11 violations	Yes	47	D
18	Blue Eye	10 violations	Yes	43	D
19	Forsyth	10 violations	Yes	27	D
20	Tonto Village	10 violations	Yes	2	C-
21	Tonto Village	10 violations	Yes	2	C-
22	Mormon Lake	10 violations	Yes	9	B-
23	Union	9 violations	Yes	56	D
24	Sullivan	9 violations	Yes	40	D
25	Shell Knob	9 violations	Yes	60	D
26	White Hills	9 violations	Yes	21	D
27	Flagstaff	9 violations	Yes	18	D
28	Festus	8 violations	Yes	20	C
29	Cape Girardeau	7 violations	Yes	127	D
30	Carthage	7 violations	Yes	21	D+
31	Hollister	7 violations	Yes	46	D
32	Stockton	7 violations	Yes	49	D
33	Summerfield	7 violations	Yes	7	C
34	Gadsden	7 violations	Yes	3	B-
35	Gadsden	7 violations	Yes	3	B-
36	Joplin	6 violations	Yes	53	F
37	Sedalia	6 violations	Yes	60	F
38	Osage Beach	6 violations	Yes	30	D
39	Mountain Grove	6 violations	Yes	20	C+
40	Ava	6 violations	Yes	16	C
41	Galena	6 violations	Yes	31	C-
42	Clifton	6 violations	Yes	35	D
43	St. Louis	5 violations	Yes	28	F
44	Rogersville	5 violations	Yes	47	D
45	Sunrise Beach	5 violations	Yes	15	D+
46	Knightdale	5 violations	Yes	22	B
47	Springfield	4 violations	Yes	59	F
48	Jackson	4 violations	Yes	72	C+
49	Boonville	4 violations	Yes	46	C
50	Bunn	4 violations	Yes	17	C+
51	St. Robert	4 violations	Yes	19	D
52	Cornville	4 violations	Yes	1	B-
53	Ozark	3 violations	Yes	65	F
54	Platte City	3 violations	Yes	9	B
55	Hillsboro	3 violations	Yes	37	D+
56	Perryville	3 violations	Yes	51	F
57	House Springs	3 violations	Yes	7	B+
58	Pacific	3 violations	Yes	47	D
59	Senath	3 violations	Yes	11	D
60	Owensville	3 violations	Yes	21	C-
61	Merriam Woods	3 violations	Yes	0	B+
62	Salome	3 violations	Yes	2	B-
63	Fordland	3 violations	Yes	10	B-
64	Ocklawaha	3 violations	Yes	0	B
65	Vienna	3 violations	Yes	14	B
66	Quartzsite	3 violations	Yes	4	B
67	Clarkton	3 violations	Yes	10	B+
68	Melbourne Beach	3 violations	Yes	8	B
69	Bertrand	3 violations	Yes	10	C
70	Chesterfield	2 violations	Yes	11	B-
71	Rolla	2 violations	Yes	32	D
72	Farmington	2 violations	Yes	251	D
73	Waynesville	2 violations	Yes	6	C+
74	Neosho	2 violations	Yes	21	C-
75	Park Hills	2 violations	Yes	50	D+
76	Marshfield	2 violations	Yes	27	D+
77	Bonne Terre	2 violations	Yes	111	C+
78	Desoto	2 violations	Yes	11	B+
79	Knob Noster	2 violations	Yes	3	A
80	Van Buren	2 violations	Yes	3	B
81	Ironton	2 violations	Yes	29	D
82	Gordonville	2 violations	Yes	2	B+
83	Roach	2 violations	Yes	31	B-
84	Crane	2 violations	Yes	7	C
85	Belleview	2 violations	Yes	16	C+
86	Pierce City	2 violations	Yes	8	B
87	Puxico	2 violations	Yes	3	A
88	Umatilla	2 violations	Yes	1	A
89	Heber	2 violations	Yes	0	B-
90	Walnut Grove	2 violations	Yes	7	B-
91	Otterville	2 violations	Yes	22	B+
92	Kansas City	1 violations	Yes	1	B
93	Nixa	1 violations	Yes	33	C
94	Kearney	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
95	Maryville	1 violations	Yes	21	C+
96	High Ridge	1 violations	Yes	15	B-
97	Holden	1 violations	Yes	8	A
98	Smithville	1 violations	Yes	16	A
99	Bolivar	1 violations	Yes	31	B
100	Higginsville	1 violations	Yes	17	B+
101	Beverly Hills	1 violations	Yes	4	B-
102	Beverly Hills	1 violations	Yes	3	B+
103	Labadie	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
104	Brookfield	1 violations	Yes	20	A-
105	Hayti	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
106	Willard	1 violations	Yes	16	A-
107	Bethany	1 violations	Yes	22	B-
108	Salem	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
109	Mount Vernon	1 violations	Yes	15	D
110	Linn	1 violations	Yes	8	B+
111	Houston	1 violations	Yes	27	B-
112	St. James	1 violations	Yes	24	B-
113	Potosi	1 violations	Yes	109	C+
114	Holt	1 violations	Yes	4	A
115	Portageville	1 violations	Yes	1	B-
116	Windsor	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
117	Strafford	1 violations	Yes	9	A
118	Gideon	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
119	Concordia	1 violations	Yes	10	B+
120	Plattsburg	1 violations	Yes	9	A-
121	Elsberry	1 violations	Yes	14	B-
122	Stanberry	1 violations	Yes	45	C+
123	Richland	1 violations	Yes	11	A-
124	Bourbon	1 violations	Yes	14	B+
125	Marble Hill	1 violations	Yes	15	B+
126	Fair Grove	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
127	Ocklawaha	1 violations	Yes	0	A-
128	Sarcoxie	1 violations	Yes	4	B
129	Ash Grove	1 violations	Yes	7	B+
130	Highlandville	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
131	Sweet Springs	1 violations	Yes	14	B+
132	Ludlow	1 violations	Yes	0	A
133	Archie	1 violations	Yes	34	C
134	Blairstown	1 violations	Yes	34	B-
135	Wappapello	1 violations	Yes	12	D+
136	Foristell	1 violations	Yes	49	B
137	Dixon	1 violations	Yes	9	B+
138	Wellsville	1 violations	Yes	70	B
139	Leadwood	1 violations	Yes	54	C+
140	Morehouse	1 violations	Yes	11	C
141	Summerfield	1 violations	Yes	0	A
142	New Franklin	1 violations	Yes	22	B+
143	Jacksonville	1 violations	Yes	5	A-
144	Ormond Beach	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
145	Jasper	1 violations	Yes	4	A
146	Fairfax	1 violations	Yes	0	A+
147	Jamesport	1 violations	Yes	13	A
148	Martinsburg	1 violations	Yes	2	C

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Missouri

Is nitrate in Missouri tap water dangerous?

Yes — 148 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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