Nitrate Contamination

Nitrate in Kansas Drinking Water

Ranked by nitrate violation count · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

Cities Tested

Has Violations

100%

% Has Violations

9.3 violations

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

270

Health Violations

Analysis

Nitrate in Kansas: what the data shows

Kansas has 97 cities with nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL for nitrate is 10 mg/L (measured as nitrogen). The state has 97 cities with at least one nitrate violation. Nitrate is the most common groundwater contaminant in the United States. It enters water supplies primarily through agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural and agricultural communities face the highest risk. The primary acute health concern is methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome") in infants under six months. Emerging research also links chronic nitrate exposure to thyroid disease, certain cancers, and adverse birth outcomes. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation can remove nitrate from drinking water — standard carbon filters do not.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 10 mg/L EPA MCL

Kansas

100%

97 of 97 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

8001 of 8001 cities

City Map

Nitrate data across Kansas

Each dot is a city with nitrate violation data. Cities with at least one nitrate-related violation are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by nitrate level in Kansas

Highest Nitrate levels (violations)

All Cities

All Kansas cities ranked by nitrate level

#	City	Level	Violations?	Violations	Grade
1	Conway Springs	99 violations	Yes	104	D+
2	Pretty Prairie	93 violations	Yes	88	C
3	Hiawatha	39 violations	Yes	39	B+
4	Powhattan	37 violations	Yes	42	B-
5	Esbon	36 violations	Yes	39	B-
6	Haviland	36 violations	Yes	37	B
7	Grantville	29 violations	Yes	34	B-
8	Hays	22 violations	Yes	49	F
9	Goodland	21 violations	Yes	21	B+
10	Plainville	20 violations	Yes	33	F
11	Yoder	20 violations	Yes	24	D+
12	Highland	19 violations	Yes	19	C-
13	Belleville	18 violations	Yes	21	D+
14	Oakley	18 violations	Yes	20	C+
15	Abilene	17 violations	Yes	20	B+
16	Belle Plaine	16 violations	Yes	19	C
17	Marquette	16 violations	Yes	16	B+
18	Leoti	15 violations	Yes	15	A-
19	White City	14 violations	Yes	14	A-
20	Attica	14 violations	Yes	14	B+
21	St George	13 violations	Yes	18	C+
22	Downs	13 violations	Yes	13	A-
23	Garden City	12 violations	Yes	76	F
24	Scott City	12 violations	Yes	26	B+
25	Kingman	11 violations	Yes	13	A-
26	Great Bend	10 violations	Yes	21	F
27	Osborne	10 violations	Yes	14	B
28	Cheney	9 violations	Yes	11	A-
29	Elkhart	9 violations	Yes	7	D+
30	Coldwater	9 violations	Yes	10	B+
31	Fairview	9 violations	Yes	10	B+
32	Larned	8 violations	Yes	9	B-
33	St John	8 violations	Yes	8	B+
34	Satanta	8 violations	Yes	10	B-
35	St Marys	7 violations	Yes	7	A-
36	Dwight	7 violations	Yes	11	B+
37	Oberlin	7 violations	Yes	64	B
38	Greensburg	7 violations	Yes	9	A-
39	Hutchinson	6 violations	Yes	5	D+
40	Pratt	6 violations	Yes	6	C+
41	Salina	5 violations	Yes	9	F
42	Sterling	5 violations	Yes	6	A-
43	Carlton	5 violations	Yes	6	A-
44	Silver Lake	5 violations	Yes	6	A-
45	Wakefield	5 violations	Yes	4	B
46	Wilson	5 violations	Yes	5	A
47	Waterville	5 violations	Yes	7	B
48	Liberal	4 violations	Yes	9	D
49	Clay Center	4 violations	Yes	11	B-
50	Harper	4 violations	Yes	10	C-
51	Plains	4 violations	Yes	5	A-
52	Quenemo	4 violations	Yes	10	C+
53	Dodge City	3 violations	Yes	12	A-
54	Russell	3 violations	Yes	37	F
55	Whitewater	3 violations	Yes	14	C+
56	Quinter	3 violations	Yes	2	A-
57	Kensington	3 violations	Yes	18	B-
58	Canton	3 violations	Yes	11	B
59	Mulvane	2 violations	Yes	10	B-
60	Rose Hill	2 violations	Yes	12	F
61	Lyons	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
62	Anthony	2 violations	Yes	5	C+
63	Horton	2 violations	Yes	151	D
64	Hanover	2 violations	Yes	2	B-
65	Stockton	2 violations	Yes	9	A-
66	Maple Hill	2 violations	Yes	8	B+
67	Spearville	2 violations	Yes	3	A-
68	Winchester	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
69	Frontenac	1 violations	Yes	15	B
70	Galena	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
71	Phillipsburg	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
72	Clearwater	1 violations	Yes	2	C+
73	Halstead	1 violations	Yes	5	C+
74	Meriden	1 violations	Yes	14	B+
75	Lakin	1 violations	Yes	24	B+
76	Ozawkie	1 violations	Yes	8	C
77	Olsburg	1 violations	Yes	4	C+
78	Glen Elder	1 violations	Yes	140	F
79	Beattie	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
80	Kinsley	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
81	Inman	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
82	Hoxie	1 violations	Yes	1	A
83	Haven	1 violations	Yes	1	B+
84	Nickerson	1 violations	Yes	20	D
85	Rossville	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
86	Solomon	1 violations	Yes	2	B+
87	Andale	1 violations	Yes	3	B
88	Peabody	1 violations	Yes	24	C+
89	Mankato	1 violations	Yes	1	B
90	Cottonwood Falls	1 violations	Yes	2	A-
91	Tribune	1 violations	Yes	4	A-
92	Mount Hope	1 violations	Yes	0	B+
93	Sharon Springs	1 violations	Yes	1	A
94	Bennington	1 violations	Yes	1	B
95	Nortonville	1 violations	Yes	1	A-
96	Protection	1 violations	Yes	4	B
97	Aurora	1 violations	Yes	19	B

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about nitrate in Kansas

Is nitrate in Kansas tap water dangerous?

Yes — 97 cities in Kansas have nitrate-related violations. The EPA MCL is 10 mg/L. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants under six months, where it can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"). Adults face lower acute risk, but chronic exposure is linked to thyroid disease and certain cancers.

How can I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and distillation are effective at removing nitrate. Standard carbon filters (including most pitcher and faucet-mount filters) do NOT remove nitrate. If you rely on a private well in an agricultural area, have your water tested annually for nitrate.

What causes high nitrate levels in Kansas water?

Nitrate contamination comes primarily from agricultural fertilizer runoff, septic system leaching, and animal feedlot operations. Rural communities near intensive farming are most at risk. Shallow wells are particularly vulnerable. Heavy rainfall can spike nitrate levels as it washes fertilizer into groundwater and surface water supplies.

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