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Phelps County, MO Water Quality

Water quality data for 5 public water systems serving Phelps County, Missouri — based on EPA SDWIS enforcement records, lead testing results, and health-based violation history.

📅 2026 Report 🔄 Data updated 2026 Q2 📍 5 water systems · 5 cities
✅
Generally Safe — Most Systems Performing Well

The majority of water systems have no active violations and lead levels well below the federal action level.

B

Phelps County Earns a B

Phelps County: 5 communities across 5 water systems. 100.0% have no open violations.

  • Median lead where detected: 1.08 ppb
  • 3 communities with a lead detection, 2 reporting none detected
  • 1 communities with PFAS above the federal limit
  • 2 with significant inspection deficiencies
  • 100.0% of communities have no open violations
1.08 ppb
Median Lead Level
County-wide, 90th percentile
5
Water Systems
Active CWS & NTNCWS
100%
Violation-Free
No active violations on record
How we grade counties: MyWaterIQ uses EPA SDWIS enforcement data — actual MCL violations and lead test results — not the aspirational MCLG targets used by some sites. A grade reflects real compliance history, not theoretical risk. Learn more →

Cities by Water Quality

⭐ Best Performing
  • Rolla
    3.91 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Doolittle
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
  • Edgar Springs
    Not detected
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Newburg
    0.59 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • St. James
    1.08 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 4 sampling points
    C
⚠ Needs Attention
  • St. James
    1.08 ppb
    PFAS above the limit at 1 of 4 sampling points
    C
  • Newburg
    0.59 ppb
    1 significant inspection deficiency
    B
  • Edgar Springs
    Not detected
    2 health-based violations since 2015
    B
  • Rolla
    3.91 ppb
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    A
  • Doolittle
    Not detected
    No federal limits exceeded on record
    B
County Lead Level — Median 1.08 ppb
Based on most recent 90th percentile lead tests across all reporting systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
County median: 1.08 ppb — 7.2% of the federal action level
Systems by Lead Level
Under 5 ppb
3
No Data
2

All Cities in Phelps County

Rolla 3.91 ppb A
St. James 1.08 ppb C
Newburg 0.59 ppb B
Edgar Springs Not detected B
Doolittle Not detected B
Showing 5 cities
No active violations Active violations

About Phelps County Drinking Water

Phelps County is served by 5 water systems covering 5 communities. No community here has an open violation on record.

Of the communities reporting lead results, 3 recorded a detection, with a median of 1.08 ppb — 7% of the federal action level. 2 reported none detected, which means below the laboratory limit rather than an absence of lead.

1 of 5 communities have PFAS above the limits EPA set in 2024, measured as a running annual average at each sampling point. State inspectors recorded significant deficiencies at 2 of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phelps County tap water safe to drink?▼
No community in Phelps County has an open violation on record. 1 of 5 have PFAS above the federal limit, which is the main open concern.
What is the lead level in Phelps County?▼
Among communities with a detection the median is 1.08 ppb, 7% of the 15 ppb action level. 2 reported none detected and 0 reported no result.
How many water systems serve Phelps County?▼
5 community water systems serve 5 communities here.
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