Fact Sheet on Well Testing In Jasper County, MO

All properties with private wells being sold or transferred in Jasper County Missouri beginning July 1, 2006 must have the well tested for Lead and Cadmium.  The new owner and the Jasper County Health Department shall receive a copy of the test results.  A DNR certified tester is required to collect the sample. The Jasper County Health Department maintains a list of MoDNR and EPA certified labs to run the test and also a list of certified testers to collect the samples. Click here for a list

Lead mining and smelting may be major sources of contamination to ground water.  Lead poisoning affects every system in the body; it can cause learning disabilities, behavioral problems and at high levels can cause seizures, comas, stroke and kidney disease.  Cadmium exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle cramps and convulsions.  Long term exposure can cause kidney, liver, bone and red blood cell damage.

EPA established an action level for lead at 15 parts per billion (ppb).
EPA established an action level for cadmium at 5 parts per billion (ppb).

Heavy metals may be removed from well water by:

1.      Reverse Osmosis
2.      Distillation
3.      Lime Softening
4.      Ion Exchange
5.      Coagulation/Filtration

Activated charcoal or carbon filters will not remove high levels of lead or cadmium from well water.  EPA testing in this area has shown water softeners to be effective at removing these metals although they are not specifically intended to do so.