Public water system · MO4010853
ActiveWest Plains Pws
At a glance
West Plains Pws (PWSID MO4010853) is an active community water system in Howell County, Missouri. It reports serving 12,864 people through 5,845 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater under influence of surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
12,864
Service connections
5,845
Primary source
GU
Groundwater under influence of surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does West Plains Pws compare with other water systems in Howell County?
By EPA's size categories, West Plains Pws is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Howell County has 14 active public water systems, and West Plains Pws is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 7.5 times the county average of 1,725 people per system, and accounts for 53% of the 24,147 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Missouri, the 2,943 active systems average 2,049 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so West Plains Pws is about twice that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Missouri has 1,612 active community water systems, 55% of the state's 2,943 active systems. Groundwater under the influence of surface water is well or spring water that the regulator has found to be affected by nearby surface water, so it is regulated under the surface-water treatment rules. 4 Missouri systems (0.1%) list groundwater under influence of surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates West Plains Pws?
EPA lists West Plains Pws as owned by a local government. The MO state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 10 of the 14 active systems in Howell County (71%) are also owned by a local government.
Does West Plains Pws have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. The violations listed here began between November 1993 and July 2023. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit, 3 required treatment not met and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Inadequate Reporting · code 72 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-06-01 | Required treatment not metSingle Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) · code 43 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2021-03-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2017-06-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1999-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Combined Radium (-226 and -228)code 4010 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1999-05-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single Sample · code 01 | Gross alpha (excluding radon and uranium)code 4000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1997-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
West Plains Pws: frequently asked questions
Who runs West Plains Pws?
West Plains Pws (PWSID MO4010853) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the MO state drinking water program.
How many people does West Plains Pws serve?
West Plains Pws reports serving 12,864 people through 5,845 service connections in Howell County, Missouri.
Where does West Plains Pws get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater under influence of surface water. Groundwater under the influence of surface water is well or spring water that the regulator has found to be affected by nearby surface water, so it is regulated under the surface-water treatment rules.
Does West Plains Pws have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is West Plains Pws' water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the MO state drinking water program.
Where can I find West Plains Pws' water quality report?
As a community water system, West Plains Pws must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Howell County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Pws | Howell | 2,791 | Community | Groundwater |
| Willow Springs Pws | Howell | 2,250 | Community | Groundwater |
| Howell Oregon County Pwsd 2 North | Howell | 1,742 | Community | Groundwater |
| Howell County Pwsd 3 | Howell | 1,500 | Community | Groundwater |
| Howell Oregon 2 West | Howell | 1,170 | Community | Groundwater |
| Howell County Pwsd 1 | Howell | 850 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “West Plains Pws, PWSID MO4010853, Missouri”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/missouri/west-plains-pws-mo4010853 (data as of October 1, 2026).