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Lead Contamination

Lead in Kansas Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile lead level (ppb) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

312
Cities Tested
2
Exceeds Limit
1%
% Exceeds Limit
2.1 ppb
State Avg
▼ 1% vs national
vs National
261
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in Kansas: what the data shows

Kansas has 312 cities with lead monitoring data, with very few cities exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average 90th percentile lead level is 2.1 ppb, compared to 3.3 ppb nationally — better than the national average. 2 cities exceed the 15 ppb action level. High lead levels in tap water typically indicate aging infrastructure — lead service lines, lead solder in older plumbing, or lead-containing brass fixtures. There is no safe level of lead exposure for children. The 90th percentile measurement means that 90% of tap samples in a city are at or below the reported level. This is the standard EPA uses under the Lead and Copper Rule to determine if a water system needs to take corrective action. An NSF 53-certified pitcher or under-sink filter can effectively remove lead at the tap.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 15 ppb EPA Action Level

Kansas
1%
2 of 312 cities
← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)
National avg
2%
352 of 15325 cities
City Map

Lead data across Kansas

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with lead levels above the 15 ppb EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by lead level in Kansas

Highest Lead levels (ppb)

  1. 1 C+ Medicine Lodge 26.5 ppb Yes 2K
  2. 2 D+ Iola 19.0 ppb Yes 6K
  3. 3 D Junction City 14.0 ppb 19K
  4. 4 B- Minneola 13.6 ppb 752
  5. 5 C+ Lyndon 13.0 ppb 1K
  6. 6 F Hays 11.1 ppb 22K
  7. 7 B Olathe 11.0 ppb 143K
  8. 8 B Coffeyvile 10.0 ppb 2K
  9. 9 B+ Frankfort 9.4 ppb 717
  10. 10 B Andale 9.3 ppb 938
All Cities

All Kansas cities ranked by lead level

# City Level Level Exceeds? Violations Grade
1 Medicine Lodge 26.5 ppb
Yes 1
C+
2 Iola 19.0 ppb
Yes 19
D+
3 Junction City 14.0 ppb
No 21
D
4 Minneola 13.6 ppb
No 2
B-
5 Lyndon 13.0 ppb
No 2
C+
6 Hays 11.1 ppb
No 49
F
7 Olathe 11.0 ppb
No 5
B
8 Coffeyvile 10.0 ppb
No 11
B
9 Frankfort 9.4 ppb
No 4
B+
10 Andale 9.3 ppb
No 3
B
11 Hiawatha 8.5 ppb
No 39
B+
12 Assaria 8.5 ppb
No 0
B
13 Pomona 8.1 ppb
No 2
B+
14 Augusta 7.6 ppb
No 18
B
15 Claflin 7.4 ppb
No 0
B
16 Kansas City 6.5 ppb
No 1
A-
17 Rosalia 6.2 ppb
No 0
B-
18 Pleasanton 6.2 ppb
No 78
C+
19 Douglass 6.1 ppb
No 4
B+
20 Howard 6.1 ppb
No 36
C+
21 Clearwater 6.0 ppb
No 2
C+
22 Mount Hope 5.5 ppb
No 0
B+
23 Louisburg 5.4 ppb
No 36
B+
24 Solomon 5.4 ppb
No 2
B+
25 Colony 5.2 ppb
No 7
A-
26 Edgerton 5.2 ppb
No 0
B+
27 Marquette 5.2 ppb
No 16
B+
28 Rantoul 5.0 ppb
No 25
B+
29 Lecompton 4.8 ppb
No 0
B+
30 Wakefield 4.8 ppb
No 4
B
31 Emporia 4.6 ppb
No 16
C+
32 Dighton 4.4 ppb
No 7
B-
33 Jetmore 4.4 ppb
No 4
A-
34 Enterprise 4.4 ppb
No 0
B+
35 Goessel 4.3 ppb
No 2
A-
36 Haven 4.2 ppb
No 1
B+
37 Plainville 4.0 ppb
No 33
F
38 Chapman 4.0 ppb
No 3
C+
39 Spearville 4.0 ppb
No 3
A-
40 Deerfield 4.0 ppb
No 2
B
41 Fort Scott 3.8 ppb
No 12
B+
42 Coldwater 3.8 ppb
No 10
B+
43 Coffeyville 3.7 ppb
No 23
C+
44 Bel Aire 3.7 ppb
No 1
B+
45 Goddard 3.7 ppb
No 1
B-
46 Spring Hill 3.7 ppb
No 1
B+
47 Basehor 3.6 ppb
No 1
B
48 Seneca 3.6 ppb
No 3
B
49 Wilson 3.6 ppb
No 5
A
50 Ozawkie 3.5 ppb
No 8
C
51 Harper 3.5 ppb
No 10
C-
52 Fairview 3.5 ppb
No 10
B+
53 Ottawa 3.4 ppb
No 22
C+
54 Baldwin 3.4 ppb
No 3
A-
55 Highland 3.4 ppb
No 19
C-
56 Gas City 3.4 ppb
No 1
A-
57 Salina 3.3 ppb
No 9
F
58 Esbon 3.3 ppb
No 39
B-
59 Haviland 3.3 ppb
No 37
B
60 Parsons 3.2 ppb
No 71
C+
61 Baxter Springs 3.2 ppb
No 34
C+
62 Tonganoxie 3.1 ppb
No 5
C+
63 Goodland 3.1 ppb
No 21
B+
64 South Hutchinson 3.1 ppb
No 0
B+
65 Towanda 3.1 ppb
No 2
B+
66 Kinsley 3.1 ppb
No 2
A-
67 Lincoln 3.1 ppb
No 4
A-
68 Bucklin 3.1 ppb
No 5
B
69 Ashland 3.1 ppb
No 0
B+
70 Topeka 2.9 ppb
No 56
F
71 Holton 2.9 ppb
No 9
A-
72 Kechi 2.9 ppb
No 0
B+
73 Havana 2.9 ppb
No 2
B+
74 Perry 2.9 ppb
No 5
C+
75 Belle Plaine 2.9 ppb
No 19
C
76 Fowler 2.9 ppb
No 0
B+
77 Lawrence 2.8 ppb
No 2
B-
78 Eureka 2.8 ppb
No 13
B
79 Riley 2.8 ppb
No 0
A-
80 Haysville 2.7 ppb
No 4
A
81 Sabetha 2.7 ppb
No 9
A-
82 Alma 2.7 ppb
No 16
B+
83 Fort Leavenworth 2.6 ppb
No 4
A+
84 Valley Center 2.6 ppb
No 0
B+
85 Anthony 2.6 ppb
No 5
C+
86 Sublette 2.6 ppb
No 0
B+
87 Blue Rapids 2.6 ppb
No 1
A-
88 Pretty Prairie 2.6 ppb
No 88
C
89 Marysville 2.5 ppb
No 0
A-
90 Nickerson 2.5 ppb
No 20
D
91 Lebo 2.5 ppb
No 5
A-
92 Clyde 2.5 ppb
No 0
A+
93 Pratt 2.4 ppb
No 6
C+
94 Caney 2.4 ppb
No 53
D
95 Kiowa 2.4 ppb
No 2
C
96 Moline 2.4 ppb
No 73
C+
97 Attica 2.4 ppb
No 14
B+
98 Berryton 2.3 ppb
No 4
A
99 Stark 2.3 ppb
No 11
B+
100 Eskridge 2.3 ppb
No 10
B
101 Bern 2.3 ppb
No 0
A-
102 Paola 2.2 ppb
No 7
A-
103 Hoisington 2.2 ppb
No 0
B+
104 Hanover 2.2 ppb
No 2
B-
105 Little River 2.2 ppb
No 0
B+
106 Yates Center 2.2 ppb
No 28
D
107 Cherokee 2.2 ppb
No 1
B+
108 Protection 2.2 ppb
No 4
B
109 Winchester 2.1 ppb
No 1
B+
110 Frontenac 2.1 ppb
No 15
B
111 Madison 2.1 ppb
No 56
D+
112 Gardner 2.0 ppb
No 11
A-
113 Ulysses 2.0 ppb
No 4
A
114 Garnett 2.0 ppb
No 12
B-
115 Colwich 2.0 ppb
No 0
B+
116 Buhler 2.0 ppb
No 15
A-
117 Downs 2.0 ppb
No 13
A-
118 Powhattan 2.0 ppb
No 42
B-
119 Greensburg 2.0 ppb
No 9
A-
120 Hutchinson 1.9 ppb
No 5
D+
121 Park City 1.9 ppb
No 1
B-
122 Tecumseh 1.9 ppb
No 4
B+
123 Larned 1.9 ppb
No 9
B-
124 Hillsboro 1.9 ppb
No 14
C+
125 Osborne 1.9 ppb
No 14
B
126 St John 1.9 ppb
No 8
B+
127 Talmage 1.9 ppb
No 0
A
128 Wamego 1.8 ppb
No 4
B-
129 Lindsborg 1.8 ppb
No 7
B
130 Burlingame 1.8 ppb
No 6
B
131 Burden 1.8 ppb
No 8
B+
132 Wathena 1.8 ppb
No 3
B
133 Lacygne 1.8 ppb
No 61
D+
134 Mound City 1.8 ppb
No 34
D+
135 Udall 1.8 ppb
No 0
B+
136 Meriden 1.7 ppb
No 14
B+
137 Ellis 1.7 ppb
No 8
B
138 Humboldt 1.7 ppb
No 4
A-
139 Wakeeney 1.7 ppb
No 0
B+
140 Hill City 1.7 ppb
No 5
A-
141 Inman 1.7 ppb
No 1
A-
142 Victoria 1.7 ppb
No 2
B+
143 Stafford 1.7 ppb
No 3
C+
144 Rose Hill 1.6 ppb
No 12
F
145 Bronson 1.6 ppb
No 34
C
146 Osage City 1.5 ppb
No 5
A-
147 Cheney 1.5 ppb
No 11
A-
148 Cimarron 1.5 ppb
No 0
B+
149 Minneapolis 1.5 ppb
No 0
B
150 Piqua 1.5 ppb
No 12
A-
151 Washington 1.5 ppb
No 3
B
152 Garden Plain 1.5 ppb
No 0
B+
153 Scranton 1.5 ppb
No 4
B-
154 Moran 1.5 ppb
No 13
C-
155 Wichita 1.4 ppb
No 4
B+
156 Scott City 1.4 ppb
No 26
B+
157 Valley Falls 1.4 ppb
No 26
B
158 Hesston 1.4 ppb
No 2
B+
159 Oakley 1.4 ppb
No 20
C+
160 Smith Center 1.4 ppb
No 3
A-
161 Meade 1.4 ppb
No 1
B+
162 Olsburg 1.4 ppb
No 4
C+
163 Grantville 1.4 ppb
No 34
B-
164 Osawatomie 1.3 ppb
No 37
D
165 Colby 1.3 ppb
No 0
A-
166 Auburn 1.3 ppb
No 11
B
167 Herington 1.3 ppb
No 48
B
168 New Strawn 1.3 ppb
No 18
A-
169 Carlton 1.3 ppb
No 6
A-
170 Milford 1.3 ppb
No 55
C
171 Satanta 1.3 ppb
No 10
B-
172 White City 1.3 ppb
No 14
A-
173 Garden City 1.2 ppb
No 76
F
174 Fort Riley 1.2 ppb
No 9
A-
175 Newton 1.2 ppb
No 2
B+
176 Hillsdale 1.2 ppb
No 11
A-
177 Maize 1.2 ppb
No 0
A
178 Belleville 1.2 ppb
No 21
D+
179 Norton 1.2 ppb
No 43
B-
180 Moundridge 1.2 ppb
No 0
B+
181 Beattie 1.2 ppb
No 1
A-
182 Winfield 1.1 ppb
No 8
B
183 Kingman 1.1 ppb
No 13
A-
184 Phillipsburg 1.1 ppb
No 1
A-
185 Oberlin 1.1 ppb
No 64
B
186 Johnson City 1.1 ppb
No 0
A-
187 Westphalia 1.1 ppb
No 1
B+
188 Quinter 1.1 ppb
No 2
A-
189 Leon 1.1 ppb
No 1
B
190 Weir 1.1 ppb
No 1
B+
191 El Dorado 1.0 ppb
No 32
D
192 Great Bend 1.0 ppb
No 21
F
193 Chanute 1.0 ppb
No 66
D
194 Bonner Springs 1.0 ppb
No 3
B
195 Lyons 1.0 ppb
No 2
B-
196 Wellsville 1.0 ppb
No 2
B+
197 North Newton 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
198 Atwood 1.0 ppb
No 23
B+
199 Elwood 1.0 ppb
No 0
B+
200 Maple Hill 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
201 Wellington 0.8 ppb
No 32
C-
202 Pittsburg 0.7 ppb
No 11
B
203 Walton 0.7 ppb
No 5
B-
204 Belvue 0.7 ppb
No 5
B+
205 Hoxie 0.7 ppb
No 1
A
206 Courtland 0.7 ppb
No 2
A-
207 Strong City 0.7 ppb
No 4
A
208 Manhattan 0.6 ppb
No 19
C-
209 Atchison 0.6 ppb
No 55
C-
210 Abilene 0.6 ppb
No 20
B+
211 Sedan 0.6 ppb
No 73
D
212 Wetmore 0.6 ppb
No 0
A-
213 Peabody 0.5 ppb
No 24
C+
214 Ellsworth 0.2 ppb
No 57
D+
215 Leavenworth 0.0 ppb
No 6
B-
216 Dodge City 0.0 ppb
No 12
A-
217 Derby 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
218 Liberal 0.0 ppb
No 9
D
219 Arkansas City 0.0 ppb
No 7
C-
220 Mcpherson 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
221 Independence 0.0 ppb
No 12
C
222 Baldwin City 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
223 Benton 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
224 Lansing 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
225 Mulvane 0.0 ppb
No 10
B-
226 Eudora 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
227 Girard 0.0 ppb
No 52
C
228 Concordia 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
229 Overbrook 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
230 Desoto 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
231 Russell 0.0 ppb
No 37
F
232 Clay Center 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
233 Lancaster 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
234 Hugoton 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
235 Fredonia 0.0 ppb
No 75
D
236 Beloit 0.0 ppb
No 46
D
237 Hoyt 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
238 Riverton 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
239 Columbus 0.0 ppb
No 37
C-
240 Arma 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
241 St Marys 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
242 Galena 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
243 Neodesha 0.0 ppb
No 53
F
244 Gridley 0.0 ppb
No 21
B-
245 Williamsburg 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
246 Burlington 0.0 ppb
No 27
A-
247 Conway Springs 0.0 ppb
No 104
D+
248 Halstead 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
249 Sterling 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
250 Marion 0.0 ppb
No 39
B+
251 Oskaloosa 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
252 Holcomb 0.0 ppb
No 17
A-
253 Lakin 0.0 ppb
No 24
B+
254 Cherryvale 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
255 Council Grove 0.0 ppb
No 29
B+
256 Onaga 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
257 Whitewater 0.0 ppb
No 14
C+
258 Scottsville 0.0 ppb
No 58
D
259 Horton 0.0 ppb
No 151
D
260 Dwight 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
261 Ellinwood 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
262 Elkhart 0.0 ppb
No 7
D+
263 Oswego 0.0 ppb
No 47
D+
264 Erie 0.0 ppb
No 35
D
265 Syracuse 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
266 Ogden 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
267 Grandview Plaza 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
268 Sedgwick 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
269 Leoti 0.0 ppb
No 15
A-
270 Stockton 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
271 Carbondale 0.0 ppb
No 40
B-
272 Silver Lake 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
273 Susank 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
274 Ness City 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
275 St Francis 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
276 Glen Elder 0.0 ppb
No 140
F
277 Lacrosse 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
278 Rossville 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
279 Waverly 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
280 Oxford 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
281 Altamont 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
282 Plains 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
283 Caldwell 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
284 Linn Valley 0.0 ppb
No 49
B-
285 St George 0.0 ppb
No 18
C+
286 Neosho Rapids 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
287 Troy 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
288 Montezuma 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
289 Smolan 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
290 Chetopa 0.0 ppb
No 58
B
291 St Paul 0.0 ppb
No 6
B-
292 Linwood 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
293 Vassar 0.0 ppb
No 43
B+
294 Galva 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
295 Gypsum 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
296 Durham 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
297 Mclouth 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
298 Burrton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
299 Mankato 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
300 Cottonwood Falls 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
301 Tribune 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
302 Sycamore 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
303 Sharon Springs 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
304 Westmoreland 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
305 Canton 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
306 Waterville 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
307 Bennington 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
308 Nortonville 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
309 Bentley 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
310 Crestline 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
311 Olpe 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
312 Effingham 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about lead in Kansas

Is lead in Kansas tap water a concern?

Yes — 2 of 312 cities with lead data exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb. The state average is 2.1 ppb. Even below the action level, lead poses health risks especially for children and pregnant women. If your home was built before 1986, consider testing your tap water directly.

How can I reduce lead exposure from Kansas tap water?

Use an NSF 53-certified water filter, which is specifically certified to reduce lead. Run your cold tap for 30 seconds before drinking or cooking, especially if water has been sitting in pipes for hours. Never use hot tap water for cooking or making baby formula, as heat increases lead leaching from pipes.

Which Kansas cities have the highest lead levels?

The cities with the highest 90th percentile lead levels in Kansas are: Medicine Lodge (26.5 ppb), Iola (19.0 ppb), Junction City (14.0 ppb), Minneola (13.6 ppb), Lyndon (13.0 ppb). See the full ranked table above.

More contaminants

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Copper in Kansas
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
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HAA5 in Kansas
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
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Chromium-6 in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Arsenic in Kansas
Ranked by violation count
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Nitrate in Kansas
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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1,4-Dioxane in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
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Manganese in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Vanadium in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Chlorate in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Molybdenum in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Cobalt in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Lithium in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
NDMA in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (ng/L)
→
Perchlorate in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
All states

Lead in drinking water by state

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore Kansas water quality → National Lead map →