01The verdict: is Quinter water safe?
Quinter's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of A- (89/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 958 residents using groundwater (wells).
4 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 1.1 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 ↓Quinter's drinking water received a grade of A- (89 out of 100), indicating good water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 958 residents using groundwater.
Lead levels were measured at 1.1 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 9 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 4 remain unresolved.
Quinter ranks #22 out of 312 cities in Kansas for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. Quinter relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Quinter may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Quinter's water
Every contaminant flagged in Quinter, 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. | 1.1 | 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
03Quinter'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 9 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. 4 remain unresolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Quinter.
▲ Up 1.1 ppb since 2004. Latest reading: 1.1 ppb (2024) — 7% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Quinter's water comes from
Quinter's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
958 people
Residents served across Quinter's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 958 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| QUINTER, CITY OF | KS2006305 | 958 | Groundwater |
05Pressure on Quinter'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
1 federal disaster declaration on record for Gove County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Quinter compares
Scores for nearby Kansas cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Kansas average (62/100)
Quinter scores 89/100 — above the Kansas average of 62/100. It outscores 10 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 Quinter's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Quinter'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 Quinter 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 Quinter, KS tap water safe to drink?
Quinter's water quality earned a grade of A- (89/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #22 out of 312 cities tested in Kansas.
What contaminants are in Quinter's water?
Lead was measured at 1.1 ppb (90th percentile). 9 violations are on record.
How is Quinter'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 Quinter?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Quinter's water come from?
Quinter's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 958 residents.
What health violations has Quinter's water system had?
Quinter has 2 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in March 2015. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 4 violations remain unresolved.
Is Quinter's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Quinter uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 9 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Quinter's water compare to other cities?
Quinter ranks #22 out of 312 cities in Kansas (better than 93% of state cities) and #3107 out of 15382 cities nationally (80th percentile). The grade of A- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Quinter's small water system affect quality?
Quinter's system serves approximately 958 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 9 violations on record.