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Most public water supply systems in Missouri obtain water from groundwater sources (well water) however, most people, more than 3 million in Missouri, drink water obtained from a surface water supply (stream, river, lake or reservoir). Missouri has over 150 surface water supply systems including several large reservoirs like Mark Twain Lake and Harry S. Truman Reservoir. Numerous smaller reservoirs are also utilized for drinking water throughout the state, especially in Northern Missouri. The quality of reservoir water directly impacts the quality of the finished drinking water and source water pollution can lead to critical supply shortages and degraded drinking water quality. In extreme cases, contamination can lead to serious health threats. However, reservoir conditions such as algal blooms or high turbidity levels that cause aesthetic problems such as taste and odor issues are more common. This can be the result of both point and nonpoint source pollution.
Who protects our drinking water? The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency operates the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water to protect public health by ensuring safe drinking water and protecting ground water. It oversees the implementation of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which monitors drinking water quality, drinking water availability and the physical security of drinking water supplies. The public drinking water systems regulated by the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act provide drinking water to more than 90 percent of Missourians (4.7 million people). In Missouri, The Department of Natural Resources operates the Public Drinking Water Program, monitoring over 100 potential contaminants in 2,700 public drinking water systems. Drinking water systems that supply water to fewer than 25 people are not regulated since they are not considered public water supplies. How does the Safe Drinking Water Act protect source waters? In addition to testing for contaminants in drinking water, The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 require states to implement Source Water Assessment Plans to better protect public drinking water from future contamination from both point and nonpoint source pollution. A Source Water Assessment includes four major elements:
For surface water from a stream, river, lake or reservoir, the land area in the watershed upstream of the intake (the point where the drinking water treatment plant draws the water out) is identified. The areas closest to the intake can impact the water supply as well as more distant areas in the watershed. The watershed is particularly important because human activity throughout the watershed can impact the water supply via nonpoint source pollution, which is difficult to identify and remedy. For groundwater supplies, the flow of underground water is determined. Depending on the flow, pollutants can filter down from the land surface and enter the supply.
The second step involves the identification of potential pollution sources. A list of facilities within the area that may release point source contaminants is generated, but nonpoint sources are harder to identify. Community groups and individuals can be key sources of information in this part of the assessment. Generally, nonpoint sources are more easily identified by those familiar with the area and the land use. Many types of potential pollutant sources exist including gas stations, septic systems, mining operations, forestry operations, feed lots, industrial plants and residential areas.
At this step, the state compiles all of the information to decide how likely a water supply is to become contaminated. This helps local communities decide how to best protect their drinking water supplies from the point and nonpoint pollution threats that exist. Treatment plant operators can also use the information to choose between different management practices and treatment processes.
After completion, the assessment must be summarized and made available to the public. Some states post these assessments on the Internet (Missouri’s Source Water Assessment Plan can be found at http://drinkingwater.missouri.edu/swap/index.html) while other states have copies available in public libraries or government offices. Where is my local drinking water supply source? Interactive maps of every public water supply are available through the Center for Agricultural, Resource and Environmental Systems (CARES) on the Internet at http://maps.cares.missouri.edu. How does my local drinking water supply measure up? The Department of Natural Resources issues Annual Compliance Reports, the most recent of which can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/fyreports/index.html. You can also request a copy by calling 1-800-361-4827 or (573) 751-5331. Drinking water suppliers now provide reports (sometimes called consumer confidence reports) that tell where drinking water comes from and what contaminants may be in it. Water quality reports for many Missouri suppliers can be located through the following EPA web site http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo/mo.htm or you can contact your water supplier directly to get a copy. How can my community get involved? Individuals and community groups can do a lot to impact source water
quality. They can cooperate with government agencies to identify potential
point and nonpoint contamination sources. Community groups can contribute
information about watershed activities that may not be on state databases
or maps, especially nonpoint sources that are hard to identify. They
can also help prevent new contaminant threats from arising in the source
water area. Groups can work to establish or revise zoning regulations
for land use and development in the watershed to mitigate nonpoint pollution
or they can work to set aside watershed land as a protected conservation
zone. Community groups can also hold public meetings to help educate
the public about pollution and the impacts of household chemicals and
lawn fertilizers, etc. on water quality. Kristen Veum
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