01The verdict: is New Strawn water safe?
New Strawn's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (86.1/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 2,315 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
7 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓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 ↓Check back after the next refresh
EPA data updates on a rolling basis; we fold in new samples and violations every month.
Get alerts ↓New Strawn's drinking water received a grade of A- (86.1 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 2 water systems serve approximately 2,315 residents using purchased surface water.
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 29 violations on record, including 18 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.
New Strawn ranks #57 out of 312 cities in Kansas for water quality, placing it above average in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, New Strawn may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in New Strawn's water
Every contaminant flagged in New Strawn, 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.
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 |
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
03New Strawn'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 29 violations on record, including 18 health-based violations. 7 remain unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for New Strawn.
▼ Down 2.3 ppb since 2007. Latest reading: 1.8 ppb (2025) — 12% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where New Strawn's water comes from
New Strawn's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
2 systems
2 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
2,315 people
Residents served across New Strawn's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 2,315 people through 2 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| COFFEY CO RWD 3 | KS2003106 | 1,903 | Purchased Surface Water |
| NEW STRAWN, CITY OF | KS2003105 | 412 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near New Strawn
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence New Strawn's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on New Strawn'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
2 federal disaster declarations on record for Coffey County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How New Strawn compares
Scores for nearby Kansas cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Kansas average (62/100)
New Strawn scores 86.1/100 — 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 New Strawn's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
New Strawn's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
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 New Strawn alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is New Strawn, KS tap water safe to drink?
New Strawn's water quality earned a grade of A- (86.1/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #57 out of 312 cities tested in Kansas.
What contaminants are in New Strawn's water?
Lead was measured at 1.3 ppb (90th percentile). 29 violations are on record.
How is New Strawn'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 New Strawn?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does New Strawn's water come from?
New Strawn's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 2 water systems serving approximately 2,315 residents.
What health violations has New Strawn's water system had?
New Strawn has 18 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in December 2016. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 7 violations remain unresolved.
How does New Strawn's water compare to other cities?
New Strawn ranks #57 out of 312 cities in Kansas (better than 82% of state cities) and #4893 out of 15382 cities nationally (68th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.