Risky Water Quality in Northeast Missouri

Episode 1 | Host: Tiffany McCoy | Published: October 6, 2025 | Runtime: 5:34

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Contact DNR

(573) 634-2436 or dnr.mo.gov/container-form.htm

About This Episode

What happens when a major flood leaves behind more than washed-out roads? In this episode, Tiffany McCoy digs into the growing water quality concerns in northeast Missouri — from the orphaned storage containers left behind by the 2019 floods to the ongoing pressure of farm runoff and industrial discharge. More importantly, she connects local contamination to global consequences and shares practical steps every Missourian can take today.

What You'll Learn

• How the 2019 Missouri floods created an ongoing water contamination crisis
• The main sources of water pollution in northeast Missouri — farm runoff, factory discharge, and orphaned containers
• How local water pollution connects to regional rivers, the Mississippi system, and global ocean health
• The planetary boundary concept of biogeochemical flow and why it matters to your backyard
• Simple household steps to reduce exposure to contaminants
• How to report orphaned flood containers to the Missouri DNR
• How to get involved in local drinking water decision-making

Resources Mentioned

📞 Report orphaned flood containers: (573) 634-2436 or dnr.mo.gov/container-form.htm

Attend local water quality meetings: call (573) 324-5451

🔗 Missouri DNR Water Protection Program

📄 Bowling Green Public Water Supply Annual Report

🔗 EWG Tap Water Database

About Your Host

Tiffany McCoy is the host of Show-Me Horticulture and founder of the Show-Me Horticulture pilot farm in northeast Missouri. She is pursuing a B.S. in Sustainable Horticulture at Unity Environmental University and is passionate about connecting people to the food they grow. Every episode is rooted in real Missouri gardens, practical growing advice, and the community that makes local food so meaningful.

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Email: showmehorticulture@gmail.com

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