The Missouri Department of Natural Resources urges consumers to become more familiar with their local drinking water provider. The department has made it easier to do so by becoming the first in the nation to post Consumer Confidence Reports online for each public water supply.
Federal law requires public water supplies to provide Consumer Confidence Reports to customers by July 1 each year. These reports enable Missourians to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and environment. They describe the water sources used by the systems, identify any contaminants found during routine drinking water testing and provide general information on drinking water and health. The reports also provide suppliers with an opportunity to explain how the community's drinking water supplies are protected and build on their relationship with the customer.
This year, public water supplies are allowed for the first time to distribute the reports electronically to their customers. To assist utilities with this effort, the Department of Natural Resources has made the reports available to consumers on its website at dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/pdwb/ccr.htm. Missouri is the only state to take this initiative after the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency decided last year to allow water systems to post the reports online in lieu of mailing paper copies. Public water systems are required to provide customers a direct link to their report, but customers can also search for their public water system by selecting their county on the department’s website.
All community water systems are required to produce and distribute a Consumer Confidence Report. These systems include cities, water districts, subdivisions, mobile home parks and other water systems serving at least 25 residents.
The department encourages the public to read their water system's Consumer Confidence Report and become better informed about their drinking water. Any citizen served by a community water system who has not received a Consumer Confidence Report should call their water provider and request a copy.
For more information, call the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331.
