Ozark Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Ozark PWS (Public Water System ID MO5010619) serves the city of Ozark in Christian County, Missouri, a growing community near Springfield. The utility draws water exclusively from groundwater sources within the local aquifer system; no named treatment plant facilities are detailed in available sources. The utility can be contacted at 417-581-2407 or at 205 N First St, PO Box 295, Ozark, MO 65721. The 2025 Annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) is available from the utility directly and provides full supply monitoring details.

The supply derives from the Springfield Plateau Aquifer, part of the Ozark Plateaus karst region in Missouri. Key formations include Mississippian limestones — the Burlington-Keokuk Formation and Warsaw Formation — along with older Ordovician-Devonian dolomites such as the Cotter Dolomite and Jefferson City Formation. These soluble carbonate rocks dissolve via acidic recharge waters, releasing substantial calcium and magnesium and yielding a hard supply. The geology features sinkholes, springs, and caves typical of karst, influencing infiltration and mineral content throughout Christian County.

At very hard levels, scale buildup is severe — water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, and coffee makers face clogged heating elements and pipes, shortening appliance lifespan. Soap efficiency drops, leaving filmy residues on dishes, skin, and hair. Regular vinegar descaling, installing sediment pre-filters, and flushing water heaters annually are advised; a water softener is strongly recommended. Water earns an A grade for EPA legal compliance but a B against health guidelines due to detected arsenic, chloroform, dichloroacetic acid, radium-226 and -228, and total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), plus detectable aluminum. Total Dissolved Solids measure 291 ppm, and treatment involves chlorination disinfection per Missouri DNR regulations.