MO American St. Joseph

What is a Water Quality Report? To comply with federal and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulations, Missouri American Water releases an annual report detailing the quality of your municipal water. This document aims to enhance your understanding of tap water and raise awareness about protecting our water resources. We perform tests for numerous contaminants and provide a summary of the most recent water quality data available, including information about your water source and composition.

About Missouri American Water: As a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), Missouri American Water is the state's largest investor-owned water utility, delivering reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.5 million residents. American Water's history dates back to 1886, making it the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the United States. The company employs over 6,700 dedicated professionals providing regulated and market-based services across 47 states and Ontario, Canada.

Source Water Information: Missouri American Water delivers quality municipal water to more than 32,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in St. Joseph. The district also supplies water to four surrounding water districts and the neighboring Kansas communities of Elwood and Wathena. The St. Joseph treatment facility utilizes groundwater from vertical wells and a horizontal collector well in the Missouri River alluvium.

Protecting Water Quality at the Source: We all share responsibility for protecting our rivers and water sources. Living in a watershed means that rainwater and snowmelt travel across surfaces, collecting pollutants from lawns, streets, and farmland before reaching rivers or streams. You can help reduce pollution by:

• Recycling and preventing litter
• Avoiding pouring oils or chemicals into storm drains
• Planting native vegetation that requires no fertilizers or herbicides
• Using lawn chemicals sparingly and following instructions
• Installing rain gardens to capture runoff
• Joining local stream cleanup initiatives

Special Health Information: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems, including cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, elderly individuals, and infants may face increased infection risks. These individuals should seek advice from healthcare providers about their drinking water. USEPA/CDC guidelines on reducing Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminant risks are available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

Concerning lead in drinking water: Elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water primarily comes from materials associated with service lines and home plumbing. While Missouri American Water provides high-quality drinking water, we cannot control the components used in household plumbing. To minimize potential lead exposure, flush your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption when it has been sitting for several hours.

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