Wrap: Twenty-six Southwest Missouri businesses in 16 counties don't know if their public drinking water meets state safety standards Tuesday.

Four restaurants and a child care center are among a list of violators who repeatedly failed to submit mandatory drinking water tests.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources requires all public water systems to test for bacteria each month to prevent waterborne diseases such as E. coli.

DNR Communications Director Renee Bungart says the department can only assess fines at this time.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jenner Smith.