TapSafetyReport
F4/100

CITY OF COLUMBIA — Water Quality Report 2026

Serving 5,900 people · Mississippi

Water Source
Groundwater
County
—
System ID
MS0460003
Violations
77

Contaminant Test Results

2 contaminants above EPA health goals
ContaminantDetectedLimit (MCL)Status
Copper (90th percentile)
1.50 mg/L1.30 mg/LOver Limit
Lead (90th percentile)
0.002 mg/L0.015 mg/LAbove Goal

EPA Violation History

6

Violations (last 5yr)

4

Unresolved

1

Health-Related

TIER 3Resolved

Reporting violation

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: October 17, 2024 – November 21, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway
TIER 2Resolved

Treatment technique violation

When: October 17, 2024 – November 21, 2024Rule: Ground Water RuleEnforcement: Resolving — corrective action underway
TIER 3Unresolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov
TIER 3Unresolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov
TIER 3Unresolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov
TIER 3Unresolved

Failed Level 2 Assessment under Revised Total Coliform Rule

This is a paperwork/process violation — it does not mean a contaminant was detected at unsafe levels.

When: January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023Rule: Stage 2 DBPREnforcement: Informal — resolved cooperativelyVerify on EPA.gov

Understanding violation severity

Tier 1Urgent health risk. Utility must notify all customers within 24 hours.Tier 2Important health or treatment issue. Customers notified within 30 days.Tier 3Administrative or monitoring issue. Reported in the annual water quality report.

Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · Updated quarterly

Frequently Asked Questions About CITY OF COLUMBIA

Is CITY OF COLUMBIA water safe to drink?

CITY OF COLUMBIA water receives a grade of F (4/100), which is considered failing. 1 contaminant(s) exceed EPA legal limits and 77 violation(s) are on record. Customers may want to consider using a water filter.

What contaminants has CITY OF COLUMBIA detected?

32 contaminants were tested in CITY OF COLUMBIA's water. Notable contaminants include Copper (90th percentile), Lead (90th percentile). 1 exceed EPA legal limits (MCLs). 2 exceed EPA health goals (MCLGs).

Does CITY OF COLUMBIA have any EPA violations?

Yes, CITY OF COLUMBIA has 77 EPA violation(s) on record, with the most recent in 2024. Violation types include RPT, TT, MR. 2 are health-based violations.

How many people does CITY OF COLUMBIA serve?

CITY OF COLUMBIA serves approximately 5,900 people, Mississippi. The system provides water to 1 community: Columbia.

What type of water does CITY OF COLUMBIA provide?

CITY OF COLUMBIA sources its water from groundwater. Groundwater is pumped from underground aquifers, which often provides natural filtration. The utility's system ID is MS0460003.

How does CITY OF COLUMBIA compare to other utilities in Mississippi?

CITY OF COLUMBIA scores 4/100 with a grade of F (failing). This score suggests significant water quality concerns relative to other utilities. Visit our Mississippi state page for a full comparison of water systems.

Cities Served

Columbia