What was found in Alton's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 4595 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6800 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 536 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 432 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 80.8 µg/L 101% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 85.8 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 60.35 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 39.6 µg/L 2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 57.75 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 36.9 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 28.2 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21.68 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 9.78 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 21.05 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 18.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 16.2985 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 10.555 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 6.06 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 5.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.84 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 4.35 µg/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.72 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.4000 pCi/L 8% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 1.69 pCi/L — OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.1240 µg/L 4.1% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: OSBORNE CO RWD 1A · 81 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0053 mg/L 35% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ALTON, CITY OF · 100 people · 2024 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Alton
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ALTON, CITY OF | 100 |
| OSBORNE CO RWD 1A | 81 |
Frequently asked questions about Alton tap water
Is Alton tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Alton. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Alton?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Alton, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Alton's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Alton include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, TTHM, Bromoform. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.