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Cape Girardeau, MO Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Cape Girardeau, MO — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Cape Girardeau's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Cape Girardeau Pws PWSID: MO4010136 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 3.57 ppb, 24% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

B

Cape Girardeau earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 3.57 ppb — 24% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
6 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
No violations currently open
Cape Girardeau's lead level vs. all Missouri community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 3.57 ppb — 24% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 25% of Missouri utilities
Population Served
37719
~17002 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
6 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
24% of EPA action level
3.57 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 3.57 ppb, 24% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Public Notice OTHER — — 2025 Resolved
Groundwater Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2025 Resolved
Public Notice OTHER — — 2025 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Archived
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

6 violations are on record since 2015, of which 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Cape Girardeau Pws
PWSID MO4010136
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 37,719
Service connections 17,002
Systems serving this area 4
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cape Girardeau tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 3.57 ppb, 24% of the action level.
Does Cape Girardeau water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Cape Girardeau? ▼
Cape Girardeau Pws (PWSID MO4010136), one of 4 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2023-05-10. Inspectors recorded 1 significant deficiency.

What Should Cape Girardeau Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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