Each year, by July 1, community water supplies are required to make Consumer Confidence Reports available to their customers. These reports enable Missourians to make knowledgeable decisions about their health and their environment and provide consumers with the following information:

• The lake, river, aquifer, or other source of the drinking water.

• A brief summary of the susceptibility to contamination of the local drinking water source, based on the source water assessments.

• How to get a copy of the water system’s complete source water assessment;

• The level, or range of levels, of any contaminant found in local drinking water, as well as the federal health-based standard (maximum contaminant level) for comparison.

• The likely source of any contaminant in the local drinking water supply.

• Potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of health standards, and an accounting of the system’s actions to restore safe drinking water.

• The water system’s compliance with other drinking water-related rules.

• Educational information on nitrate, arsenic, or lead in areas where these contaminants are detected above 50 percent of federal standards.

• Phone numbers for additional sources of information.

Consumer Confidence Reports are updated annually by April 1. 
Information and instructions for community water supplies can be found at the following links along with the required certification form that must be submitted to the department by Oct. 1 each year.

What is backflow?
Backflow is the unwanted reversal of flow from either a loss of pressure in the water supply line (backsiphonage) or an increase in pressure on the customer side (backpressure). Common situations where backsiphonage occurs are water main breaks or firefighting events. These events create low pressure in the distribution system whereby contaminants may enter the drinking water supply. Backpressure can occur when the pressure in a buildings piping, for instance a boiler system, exceeds the pressure in the water supply line, causing liquid from the customer’s line to move into the water supply.

What is backflow prevention?
Backflow prevention, or cross-connection control, is the process by which backflow hazards are identified and eliminated. Backflow hazards are eliminated by either removing the source of contamination, removing the unprotected cross-connection or installing a backflow prevention assembly. Community water systems and customers of community water systems with identified backflow hazards are required to implement backflow prevention in accordance with 10 CSR 60-11.010.

Must I have my backflow prevention assembly tested?
Yes. To ensure that each backflow prevention assembly is in working order, the customer must have each assembly inspected and tested by a certified backflow prevention assembly tester at the time of construction or installation and annually thereafter. If the tester finds the assembly is not working, you must arrange to have it repaired and tested again. It is your responsibility to pay for the test and repairs. The tester is required to provide a copy of the test report to you and the water supplier. To obtain a list of certified backflow prevention assembly testers in your area, check the department’s website or contact your water supplier.