SWMO properties among state's chronic water violators

Eleven southwest Missouri properties, including special needs children’s retreat Camp Barnabas in Purdy, have not passed state drinking water requirements in the last year, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Statewide, the department has identified 26 public drinking water systems as “chronically” failing to meet safe water supply standards, according to a DNR news release. The department classifies chronic violators as systems with three major monitoring violations during a 12-month period, the release said.

Area properties on DNR’s chronic violator list are:

• Camp Barnabas, in Barry County;
• Ho Humm Campground and Fraternal Order of Eagles 4010, in Dallas County;
• Coachlight RV Park, in Jasper County;
• Mountain Creek Campground, in Laclede County;
• Cedar Haven Resort and Sportsman’s One Stop, in Stone County;
• East Fork Subdivision, GDM Investment Project and Taney County Memorial Post 5168, in Taney County; and
• Manes Café, in Wright County.

These properties serve estimated populations of 25 to 110 people. Camp Barnabas, the largest of the area properties, recorded a negative coliform bacteria test in August but had three major monitoring violations in 2010 and one in June 2011, according to DNR’s second-quarter chronic monitoring violations report.

After conducting routine testing – including on-site inspections and monthly bacteria tests – to maintain safe water supplies statewide, DNR officials said they’ve sent property owners multiple violation notices. Continued failure to monitor their water systems to meet Missouri’s drinking water law may result in enforcement through legal action under the state’s Water Protection Program, the release said.

The latest list of violators represents less than 1 percent of the roughly 2,800 public drinking water systems in Missouri, according to DNR.[[In-content Ad]]