Do you know what’s in your drinking water? If not, the department is urging consumers to find out more about their drinking water quality by reviewing a report from their local water system.

Public water supplies were required to make the Consumer Confidence Reports available to their customers by July 1. The reports describe the water sources used by the systems and identify any contaminants found during routine drinking water testing. The reports also inform consumers of the water system’s compliance with other drinking water-related rules and provide general information about drinking water and health, enabling Missourians to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and environment.

To assist utilities in producing the reports, the department created an informational packet that contains a template and tips on developing an informative report and making it available to customers. The Consumer Confidence Reports also provide suppliers with an opportunity to explain how they protect the community’s drinking water supplies in order to build their relationship with the customer.

All community water systems are required to make a Consumer Confidence Report available to all of their customers. These systems include cities, water districts, subdivisions, mobile home parks and other water systems serving at least 25 residents. A copy of the report will be sent by mail, published in the local newspaper or posted at the water system’s office, public buildings and the local library. Large water systems serving more than 10,000 people must deliver each customer a copy of the report directly and smaller systems may use one of the other delivery or notification options. Several water systems post the report on the web.

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.