Kansas Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Kansas, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
Great Bend, City Of has the highest PFAS in Kansas at 110 ppt (28x the EPA limit). Linn Co Rwd 1 has the highest lead at 47 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Kansas
Public water systems in Kansas with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Bend, City Of | Great Bend · 14,580 served | 110 | 10 | 28x |
| 2 | Mulvane, City Of | Mulvane · 6,587 served | 37.1 | 1 | 9x |
| 3 | Salina, City Of | Salina · 46,481 served | 30.1 | 2 | 8x |
| 4 | Frusi Water Treatment Plant | Fort Riley · 35,784 served | 21.1 | 7 | 5x |
| 5 | Goddard, City Of | Goddard · 5,372 served | 17 | 1 | 4x |
| 6 | Pratt, City Of | Pratt · 6,573 served | 13.9 | 6 | 3x |
| 7 | Lawrence, City Of | Lawrence · 95,256 served | 11 | 2 | 3x |
| 8 | Paola, City Of | Paola · 5,786 served | 10.9 | 2 | 3x |
| 9 | Hays, City Of | Hays · 21,040 served | 10.7 | 3 | 3x |
| 10 | Wamego, City Of | Wamego · 4,860 served | 10.5 | 1 | 3x |
| 11 | Fort Scott, City Of | Fort Scott · 7,513 served | 10.1 | 1 | 3x |
| 12 | Miami Co Rwd 2 | Paola · 10,311 served | 8.4 | 1 | 2x |
Highest Lead Levels in Kansas
Community water systems in Kansas with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linn Co Rwd 1 | La Cygne · 1,200 served | 47 | 3.1x over |
| 2 | Brookover Land Enterprises, L.P. | Garden City · 1,180 served | 29 | 1.9x over |
| 3 | Anderson Co Rwd 1c | Garnett · 2,112 served | 21 | 1.4x over |
| 4 | Sedan, City Of | Sedan · 1,005 served | 20 | 1.3x over |
| 5 | Iola, City Of | Iola · 5,343 served | 19 | 1.3x over |
| 6 | Plains, City Of | Plains · 1,023 served | 18 | 1.2x over |
| 7 | Larned, City Of | Larned · 3,621 served | 18 | 1.2x over |
| 8 | Sterling, City Of | Sterling · 2,318 served | 17 | 1.1x over |
| 9 | Chapman, City Of | Chapman · 1,377 served | 15 | within |
| 10 | Linn Co Rwd 2 | Mound City · 1,960 served | 15 | within |
| 11 | Stockton, City Of | Stockton · 1,380 served | 14 | within |
| 12 | Hiawatha, City Of | Hiawatha · 3,246 served | 13 | within |
Most EPA Violations in Kansas
Community water systems in Kansas with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beloit, City Of | Beloit · 3,407 served | 32 |
| 2 | Mitchell Co Rwd 3 | Beloit · 2,048 served | 26 |
| 3 | Conway Springs, City Of | Conway Springs · 1,106 served | 23 |
| 4 | Belle Plaine, City Of | Belle Plaine · 1,468 served | 18 |
| 5 | Herington, City Of | Herington · 2,332 served | 18 |
| 6 | Yates Center, City Of | Yates Center · 1,335 served | 16 |
| 7 | Miami Co Rwd 3 | Osawatomie · 2,435 served | 16 |
| 8 | Osawatomie, City Of | Osawatomie · 4,280 served | 16 |
| 9 | Shawnee Co Rwd 3c | Topeka · 2,675 served | 15 |
| 10 | Oakley, City Of | Oakley · 2,026 served | 15 |
| 11 | Carbondale, City Of | Carbondale · 1,344 served | 13 |
| 12 | Caney, City Of | Caney · 1,756 served | 13 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Kansas?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), Great Bend, City Of in Great Bend had the highest recorded PFAS level in Kansas at 110 ppt - about 28x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Kansas water system has the highest lead levels?
Linn Co Rwd 1 in La Cygne had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Kansas under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 47 ppb - 3.1x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Kansas water system has the most EPA violations?
Beloit, City Of in Beloit has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Kansas, with 32 violations.
Where does the Kansas water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Kansas Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Kansas water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.