01The verdict: is Carlton water safe?
Carlton's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (85.1/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,703 residents using gup.
Copper is over its legal limit
Measured at 2.41 mg/L against the EPA Action Level of 1.3 mg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 1.3 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓A flood-prone service area
3 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Carlton's drinking water received a grade of A- (85.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,703 residents using gup.
Lead levels were measured at 1.3 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 14 violations on record, including 6 health-based violations. 4 remain unresolved.
Carlton ranks #83 out of 312 cities in Kansas for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. As a small community water system, Carlton may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Carlton's water
Every contaminant flagged in Carlton, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Over Limit — EPA Action Level: 1.3 mg/L
Exceeds the EPA action level. Copper leaches from household plumbing — flush taps for 30 seconds before drinking, and consider a certified filter.Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 1.3 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
| Copper (90th percentile) CopperInorganic A metal that enters drinking water mainly through corrosion of copper plumbing. Small amounts are essential for health, but excess levels are harmful. Health EffectsGastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) at short-term high levels; liver and kidney damage from long-term exposure. EPA Limit1.3 mg/L action level Common SourcesCorrosion of copper household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits. | 2.41 | 1.3 | mg/L | Inorganic | Over Limit |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Kansas
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Kansas
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Carlton's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 14 violations on record, including 6 health-based violations. 4 remain unresolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▼ Down 3.6 ppb since 1999. Latest reading: 1.3 ppb (2023) — 9% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
2.4mg/L(1993)
One sampling round on record — 186% of the 1.3mg/L EPA action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Carlton's water comes from
Carlton's water comes from groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, a designation that requires the same treatment rigor as surface water systems.
GUP
Source details for this system are limited in EPA records.
Local treatment
Treatment is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,703 people
Residents served across Carlton's service area.
This source type is vulnerable to both surface contamination pathways and naturally occurring underground contaminants. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 1,703 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| DICKINSON CO RWD 2 | KS2004106 | 1,703 | GUP |
Water bodies near Carlton
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Carlton's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Flood & storm history
3 federal disaster declarations on record for Dickinson County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Carlton compares
Scores for nearby Kansas cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Kansas average (62/100)
Carlton scores 85.1/100 — above the Kansas average of 62/100. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities. Full Kansas rankings →
86.1 / 100BWichita, KS
83.9 / 100BOlathe, KS
79.5 / 100FTopeka, KS
39.3 / 100BLawrence, KS
74.6 / 100CManhattan, KS
56.4 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Carlton's water — not generic advice.
Filter drinking & cooking water
NSF-certified water filter. Copper exceeds the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Carlton alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Carlton, KS tap water safe to drink?
Carlton's water quality earned a grade of A- (85.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #83 out of 312 cities tested in Kansas.
What contaminants are in Carlton's water?
Lead was measured at 1.3 ppb (90th percentile). 14 violations are on record.
How is Carlton's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Carlton?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Carlton's water come from?
Carlton's water is sourced from GUP. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,703 residents.
What health violations has Carlton's water system had?
Carlton has 6 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2019. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 4 violations remain unresolved.
How does Carlton's water compare to other cities?
Carlton ranks #83 out of 312 cities in Kansas (better than 73% of state cities) and #5475 out of 15382 cities nationally (64th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Carlton's small water system affect quality?
Carlton's system serves approximately 1,703 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 14 violations on record.