All public water companies are required to distribute quality reports to their customers. The Department of Natural Resources is urging consumers to read them. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Larry Archer says they had to be filed by July one, so everyone should have been contacted with a report by now.
Archer says the law requires them on the principle behind consumer confidence reports, which is that everyone has the right to know what’s in their drinking water and where it comes from.
Archer says the majority of Missouri’s water suppliers are providing quality drinking water … and that DNR works closely with those that don’t to bring them into compliance.
The report provides consumers with detailed information regarding the source of their drinking water as well as the quality of the finished drinking water that was provided to the community during 2009.
All 1,476 community water systems in Missouri undergo regular water testing, which is often performed by the state. These systems include cities, water districts, subdivisions, mobile home parks and other water systems serving at least 25 individuals year-round. Large water systems serving more than 10,000 people must deliver each customer a copy of the report directly. Smaller systems may deliver a copy of the report by mail, publish it in the local newspaper, or post it at the water system’s office, public buildings or the local library.
The guiding principle behind consumer confidence reports is that all people have the right to know what is in their drinking water and where it comes from. The report provides an opportunity for water suppliers to educate consumers about the sources and quality of their drinking water and to involve them in decisions about it.
Any citizen served by a community water system who wants to know more about their drinking water and has not received a Consumer Confidence Report should call their water provider and request a copy.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Public Drinking Water Branch at (800) 361-4827 or (573) 751-5331.