Mo. Rev. Stat. § 640.409: Surface and ground water monitoring program, duties of department, purpose.

The department shall establish, develop and maintain an ongoing statewide surface and groundwater monitoring program, the purposes of which are:

(1) Determination of ambient surface and groundwater quality for use as background or baseline water quality data;

(2) Detection of trends in the character and concentration of contaminants in surface and groundwater resources; and

(3) Identification of areas highly vulnerable to contamination.