Missouri Private Well Water Risk: Arsenic & Nitrate
These figures are USGS statistical estimates for private (domestic) wells in Missouri. They describe the area's modeled risk — not any single well.
This is a modeled probability for the area, not a measurement of your well. USGS statistical models estimate how many private wells in this area are likely to exceed the federal limit — they cannot tell you what is in your water. Two neighbors can have very different results. The only way to know your well is to test it.
Nitrate
0%
of the private-well population is modeled above the 10 mg/L nitrate limit
~32
people on wells estimated above the limit
~871,000
total residents on private wells statewide
Source: USGS machine-learning nitrate model, Ransom et al. (2022), domestic-well depth zone.
Arsenic
Across Missouri, an estimated ~10,233 people rely on private wells with modeled arsenic above the 10 µg/L EPA limit. The highest modeled exposure is in Greene County (~618 people).
Counties with the highest modeled arsenic exposure
| County | Est. well residents over arsenic limit | 90% range |
|---|---|---|
| Greene County | ~618 | 498–770 |
| Lincoln County | ~548 | 421–709 |
| Pettis County | ~488 | 312–768 |
| Franklin County | ~467 | 369–595 |
| Camden County | ~434 | 243–767 |
| Cape Girardeau County | ~394 | 233–657 |
| Butler County | ~384 | 280–523 |
| Newton County | ~340 | 273–424 |
| Jefferson County | ~326 | 264–407 |
| McDonald County | ~245 | 133–463 |
| Miller County | ~208 | 153–287 |
| Morgan County | ~204 | 137–319 |
| Christian County | ~199 | 159–248 |
| Webster County | ~198 | 160–247 |
| St. Charles County | ~196 | 141–274 |
| Scott County | ~195 | 146–261 |
| Bollinger County | ~193 | 145–256 |
| Stoddard County | ~191 | 146–250 |
| Lawrence County | ~181 | 146–227 |
| Polk County | ~181 | 146–227 |
| St. Francois County | ~178 | 144–220 |
| Washington County | ~161 | 131–200 |
| Callaway County | ~148 | 86–252 |
| Phelps County | ~142 | 113–179 |
| Crawford County | ~138 | 109–176 |
| Barry County | ~137 | 99–198 |
| Montgomery County | ~128 | 80–204 |
| Jasper County | ~128 | 104–161 |
| Warren County | ~127 | 96–171 |
| Benton County | ~121 | 89–170 |
| Cooper County | ~121 | 82–178 |
| New Madrid County | ~121 | 91–161 |
| Cole County | ~116 | 86–158 |
| Dallas County | ~115 | 92–143 |
| Howell County | ~115 | 92–143 |
80 additional Missouri counties have lower modeled arsenic exposure (fewer than 100 estimated well residents over the limit).
Source: USGS domestic-well arsenic model, Lombard et al. (2021); county population product (2017).
Treating arsenic in Missouri
Arsenic is not removed by carbon pitchers or faucet filters. Reverse osmosis is the treatment that brings it below the federal limit at your tap.
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