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Lead Contamination

Lead in Kansas Drinking Water

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

323
Cities Tested
2
Exceeds Limit
1%
% Exceeds Limit
2.1 ppb
State Avg
▼ 1% vs national
vs National
270
Health Violations
Analysis

Lead in Kansas: what the data shows

Kansas has 323 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 323 cities
← ▼ 1% below national rate (better)
National avg
2%
378 of 15681 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 23K
  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 Quenemo 7.5 ppb
No 10
C+
16 Claflin 7.4 ppb
No 0
B
17 Kansas City 6.5 ppb
No 1
A-
18 Pleasanton 6.2 ppb
No 78
C+
19 Rosalia 6.2 ppb
No 0
B-
20 Douglass 6.1 ppb
No 4
B+
21 Howard 6.1 ppb
No 36
C+
22 Clearwater 6.0 ppb
No 2
C+
23 Mount Hope 5.5 ppb
No 0
B+
24 Louisburg 5.4 ppb
No 36
B+
25 Solomon 5.4 ppb
No 2
B+
26 Colony 5.2 ppb
No 7
A-
27 Edgerton 5.2 ppb
No 0
B+
28 Marquette 5.2 ppb
No 16
B+
29 Rantoul 5.0 ppb
No 25
B+
30 Lecompton 4.8 ppb
No 0
B+
31 Wakefield 4.8 ppb
No 4
B
32 Emporia 4.6 ppb
No 16
C+
33 Kensington 4.6 ppb
No 18
B-
34 Dighton 4.4 ppb
No 7
B-
35 Jetmore 4.4 ppb
No 4
A-
36 Enterprise 4.4 ppb
No 0
B+
37 Goessel 4.3 ppb
No 2
A-
38 Haven 4.2 ppb
No 1
B+
39 Aurora 4.2 ppb
No 19
B
40 Plainville 4.0 ppb
No 33
F
41 Chapman 4.0 ppb
No 3
C+
42 Spearville 4.0 ppb
No 3
A-
43 Deerfield 4.0 ppb
No 2
B
44 Fort Scott 3.8 ppb
No 12
B+
45 Coldwater 3.8 ppb
No 10
B+
46 Coffeyville 3.7 ppb
No 23
C+
47 Bel Aire 3.7 ppb
No 1
B+
48 Goddard 3.7 ppb
No 1
B-
49 Spring Hill 3.7 ppb
No 1
B+
50 Basehor 3.6 ppb
No 1
B
51 Seneca 3.6 ppb
No 3
B
52 Wilson 3.6 ppb
No 5
A
53 Ozawkie 3.5 ppb
No 8
C
54 Harper 3.5 ppb
No 10
C-
55 Fairview 3.5 ppb
No 10
B+
56 Ottawa 3.4 ppb
No 22
C+
57 Highland 3.4 ppb
No 19
C-
58 Baldwin 3.4 ppb
No 3
A-
59 Gas City 3.4 ppb
No 1
A-
60 Salina 3.3 ppb
No 9
F
61 Scammon 3.3 ppb
No 3
B+
62 Esbon 3.3 ppb
No 39
B-
63 Mccune 3.3 ppb
No 0
B+
64 Haviland 3.3 ppb
No 37
B
65 Parsons 3.2 ppb
No 71
C+
66 Baxter Springs 3.2 ppb
No 34
C+
67 Tonganoxie 3.1 ppb
No 5
C+
68 Goodland 3.1 ppb
No 21
B+
69 South Hutchinson 3.1 ppb
No 0
B+
70 Towanda 3.1 ppb
No 2
B+
71 Kinsley 3.1 ppb
No 2
A-
72 Lincoln 3.1 ppb
No 4
A-
73 Bucklin 3.1 ppb
No 5
B
74 Ashland 3.1 ppb
No 0
B+
75 Topeka 2.9 ppb
No 56
F
76 Holton 2.9 ppb
No 9
A-
77 Kechi 2.9 ppb
No 0
B+
78 Havana 2.9 ppb
No 2
B+
79 Perry 2.9 ppb
No 5
C+
80 Belle Plaine 2.9 ppb
No 19
C
81 Fowler 2.9 ppb
No 0
B+
82 Lawrence 2.8 ppb
No 2
B-
83 Eureka 2.8 ppb
No 13
B
84 Riley 2.8 ppb
No 0
A-
85 Haysville 2.7 ppb
No 4
A
86 Sabetha 2.7 ppb
No 9
A-
87 Alma 2.7 ppb
No 16
B+
88 Fort Leavenworth 2.6 ppb
No 4
A+
89 Valley Center 2.6 ppb
No 0
B+
90 Anthony 2.6 ppb
No 5
C+
91 Sublette 2.6 ppb
No 0
B+
92 Blue Rapids 2.6 ppb
No 1
A-
93 Pretty Prairie 2.6 ppb
No 88
C
94 Marysville 2.5 ppb
No 0
A-
95 Nickerson 2.5 ppb
No 20
D
96 Lebo 2.5 ppb
No 5
A-
97 Clyde 2.5 ppb
No 0
A+
98 Pratt 2.4 ppb
No 6
C+
99 Caney 2.4 ppb
No 53
D
100 Kiowa 2.4 ppb
No 2
C
101 Moline 2.4 ppb
No 73
C+
102 Attica 2.4 ppb
No 14
B+
103 Berryton 2.3 ppb
No 4
A
104 Stark 2.3 ppb
No 11
B+
105 Eskridge 2.3 ppb
No 10
B
106 Bern 2.3 ppb
No 0
A-
107 Paola 2.2 ppb
No 7
A-
108 Hoisington 2.2 ppb
No 0
B+
109 Hanover 2.2 ppb
No 2
B-
110 Little River 2.2 ppb
No 0
B+
111 Yates Center 2.2 ppb
No 28
D
112 Cherokee 2.2 ppb
No 1
B+
113 Protection 2.2 ppb
No 4
B
114 Winchester 2.1 ppb
No 1
B+
115 Frontenac 2.1 ppb
No 15
B
116 Madison 2.1 ppb
No 56
D+
117 Gardner 2.0 ppb
No 11
A-
118 Ulysses 2.0 ppb
No 4
A
119 Garnett 2.0 ppb
No 12
B-
120 Colwich 2.0 ppb
No 0
B+
121 Buhler 2.0 ppb
No 15
A-
122 Downs 2.0 ppb
No 13
A-
123 Powhattan 2.0 ppb
No 42
B-
124 Greensburg 2.0 ppb
No 9
A-
125 Hutchinson 1.9 ppb
No 5
D+
126 Park City 1.9 ppb
No 1
B-
127 Tecumseh 1.9 ppb
No 4
B+
128 Larned 1.9 ppb
No 9
B-
129 Hillsboro 1.9 ppb
No 14
C+
130 Osborne 1.9 ppb
No 14
B
131 St John 1.9 ppb
No 8
B+
132 Talmage 1.9 ppb
No 0
A
133 Wamego 1.8 ppb
No 4
B-
134 Lindsborg 1.8 ppb
No 7
B
135 Burlingame 1.8 ppb
No 6
B
136 Lacygne 1.8 ppb
No 61
D+
137 Mound City 1.8 ppb
No 34
D+
138 Wathena 1.8 ppb
No 3
B
139 Burden 1.8 ppb
No 8
B+
140 Udall 1.8 ppb
No 0
B+
141 Wakeeney 1.7 ppb
No 0
B+
142 Meriden 1.7 ppb
No 14
B+
143 Ellis 1.7 ppb
No 8
B
144 Humboldt 1.7 ppb
No 4
A-
145 Hill City 1.7 ppb
No 5
A-
146 Inman 1.7 ppb
No 1
A-
147 Victoria 1.7 ppb
No 2
B+
148 Stafford 1.7 ppb
No 3
C+
149 Rose Hill 1.6 ppb
No 12
F
150 Toronto 1.6 ppb
No 26
D+
151 Bronson 1.6 ppb
No 34
C
152 Yoder 1.6 ppb
No 24
D+
153 Osage City 1.5 ppb
No 5
A-
154 Cheney 1.5 ppb
No 11
A-
155 Cimarron 1.5 ppb
No 0
B+
156 Minneapolis 1.5 ppb
No 0
B
157 Piqua 1.5 ppb
No 12
A-
158 Washington 1.5 ppb
No 3
B
159 Moran 1.5 ppb
No 13
C-
160 Garden Plain 1.5 ppb
No 0
B+
161 Scranton 1.5 ppb
No 4
B-
162 Wichita 1.4 ppb
No 4
B+
163 Scott City 1.4 ppb
No 26
B+
164 Valley Falls 1.4 ppb
No 26
B
165 Hesston 1.4 ppb
No 2
B+
166 Oakley 1.4 ppb
No 20
C+
167 Olsburg 1.4 ppb
No 4
C+
168 Smith Center 1.4 ppb
No 3
A-
169 Meade 1.4 ppb
No 1
B+
170 Grantville 1.4 ppb
No 34
B-
171 Osawatomie 1.3 ppb
No 37
D
172 Colby 1.3 ppb
No 0
A-
173 Auburn 1.3 ppb
No 11
B
174 Herington 1.3 ppb
No 48
B
175 New Strawn 1.3 ppb
No 18
A-
176 Carlton 1.3 ppb
No 6
A-
177 Milford 1.3 ppb
No 55
C
178 Satanta 1.3 ppb
No 10
B-
179 White City 1.3 ppb
No 14
A-
180 Garden City 1.2 ppb
No 76
F
181 Fort Riley 1.2 ppb
No 9
A-
182 Newton 1.2 ppb
No 2
B+
183 Hillsdale 1.2 ppb
No 11
A-
184 Maize 1.2 ppb
No 0
A
185 Belleville 1.2 ppb
No 21
D+
186 Norton 1.2 ppb
No 43
B-
187 Moundridge 1.2 ppb
No 0
B+
188 Beattie 1.2 ppb
No 1
A-
189 Winfield 1.1 ppb
No 8
B
190 Kingman 1.1 ppb
No 13
A-
191 Phillipsburg 1.1 ppb
No 1
A-
192 Oberlin 1.1 ppb
No 64
B
193 Johnson City 1.1 ppb
No 0
A-
194 Westphalia 1.1 ppb
No 1
B+
195 Quinter 1.1 ppb
No 2
A-
196 Leon 1.1 ppb
No 1
B
197 Weir 1.1 ppb
No 1
B+
198 El Dorado 1.0 ppb
No 32
D
199 Great Bend 1.0 ppb
No 21
F
200 Chanute 1.0 ppb
No 66
D
201 Bonner Springs 1.0 ppb
No 3
B
202 Lyons 1.0 ppb
No 2
B-
203 Wellsville 1.0 ppb
No 2
B+
204 North Newton 1.0 ppb
No 0
A-
205 Atwood 1.0 ppb
No 23
B+
206 Elwood 1.0 ppb
No 0
B+
207 Maple Hill 1.0 ppb
No 8
B+
208 Wellington 0.8 ppb
No 32
C-
209 Pittsburg 0.7 ppb
No 11
B
210 Walton 0.7 ppb
No 5
B-
211 Belvue 0.7 ppb
No 5
B+
212 Hoxie 0.7 ppb
No 1
A
213 Courtland 0.7 ppb
No 2
A-
214 Strong City 0.7 ppb
No 4
A
215 Manhattan 0.6 ppb
No 19
C-
216 Atchison 0.6 ppb
No 55
C-
217 Abilene 0.6 ppb
No 20
B+
218 Sedan 0.6 ppb
No 73
D
219 Wetmore 0.6 ppb
No 0
A-
220 Peabody 0.5 ppb
No 24
C+
221 Ellsworth 0.2 ppb
No 57
D+
222 Leavenworth 0.0 ppb
No 6
B-
223 Derby 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
224 Dodge City 0.0 ppb
No 12
A-
225 Liberal 0.0 ppb
No 9
D
226 Arkansas City 0.0 ppb
No 7
C-
227 Mcpherson 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
228 Independence 0.0 ppb
No 12
C
229 Baldwin City 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
230 Benton 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
231 Lansing 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
232 Girard 0.0 ppb
No 52
C
233 Mulvane 0.0 ppb
No 10
B-
234 Eudora 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
235 Clay Center 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
236 Concordia 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
237 Columbus 0.0 ppb
No 37
C-
238 Overbrook 0.0 ppb
No 11
B-
239 Desoto 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
240 Russell 0.0 ppb
No 37
F
241 Holcomb 0.0 ppb
No 17
A-
242 Lancaster 0.0 ppb
No 1
B+
243 Hugoton 0.0 ppb
No 0
A
244 Oswego 0.0 ppb
No 47
D+
245 Neodesha 0.0 ppb
No 53
F
246 Fredonia 0.0 ppb
No 75
D
247 Beloit 0.0 ppb
No 46
D
248 Arma 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
249 Hoyt 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
250 Riverton 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
251 St Marys 0.0 ppb
No 7
A-
252 Galena 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
253 Gridley 0.0 ppb
No 21
B-
254 Williamsburg 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
255 Burlington 0.0 ppb
No 27
A-
256 Cherryvale 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
257 Conway Springs 0.0 ppb
No 104
D+
258 Halstead 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
259 Sterling 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
260 Marion 0.0 ppb
No 39
B+
261 Oskaloosa 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
262 Lakin 0.0 ppb
No 24
B+
263 Council Grove 0.0 ppb
No 29
B+
264 Onaga 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
265 Whitewater 0.0 ppb
No 14
C+
266 Scottsville 0.0 ppb
No 58
D
267 Horton 0.0 ppb
No 151
D
268 Dwight 0.0 ppb
No 11
B+
269 Ellinwood 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
270 Elkhart 0.0 ppb
No 7
D+
271 Erie 0.0 ppb
No 35
D
272 Syracuse 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
273 Ogden 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
274 Grandview Plaza 0.0 ppb
No 6
A
275 Sedgwick 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
276 Glen Elder 0.0 ppb
No 140
F
277 Leoti 0.0 ppb
No 15
A-
278 Stockton 0.0 ppb
No 9
A-
279 Oxford 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
280 Carbondale 0.0 ppb
No 40
B-
281 Silver Lake 0.0 ppb
No 6
A-
282 Susank 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
283 Ness City 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
284 St Francis 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
285 Lacrosse 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
286 Bartlett 0.0 ppb
No 0
C
287 Rossville 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
288 Waverly 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
289 Altamont 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
290 Plains 0.0 ppb
No 5
A-
291 Caldwell 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
292 Linn Valley 0.0 ppb
No 49
B-
293 St George 0.0 ppb
No 18
C+
294 Olpe 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
295 Neosho Rapids 0.0 ppb
No 0
B+
296 Troy 0.0 ppb
No 3
A-
297 Montezuma 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
298 Smolan 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
299 Chetopa 0.0 ppb
No 58
B
300 St Paul 0.0 ppb
No 6
B-
301 Linwood 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
302 Vassar 0.0 ppb
No 43
B+
303 Mound Valley 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
304 Galva 0.0 ppb
No 5
B+
305 Gypsum 0.0 ppb
No 5
C+
306 Durham 0.0 ppb
No 5
B-
307 Mclouth 0.0 ppb
No 2
B+
308 Burrton 0.0 ppb
No 2
B
309 Mankato 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
310 Cottonwood Falls 0.0 ppb
No 2
A-
311 Tribune 0.0 ppb
No 4
A-
312 Cedar Vale 0.0 ppb
No 15
C+
313 Sycamore 0.0 ppb
No 3
B+
314 Sharon Springs 0.0 ppb
No 1
A
315 Elk City 0.0 ppb
No 136
D
316 Westmoreland 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
317 Canton 0.0 ppb
No 11
B
318 Waterville 0.0 ppb
No 7
B
319 Bennington 0.0 ppb
No 1
B
320 Nortonville 0.0 ppb
No 1
A-
321 Bentley 0.0 ppb
No 0
B
322 Crestline 0.0 ppb
No 0
A-
323 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 323 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

Other contaminants in Kansas

PFAS in Kansas
Ranked by compounds detected
→
Copper in Kansas
Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)
→
HAA5 in Kansas
Ranked by average concentration (µg/L)
→
Chromium-6 in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
Arsenic in Kansas
Ranked by violation count
→
Nitrate in Kansas
Ranked by violation count
→
Strontium in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
1,4-Dioxane in Kansas
Ranked by max detected (µg/L)
→
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 DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaQCRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming
← Lead contamination overview Explore Kansas water quality → National Lead map →