What was found in Arkansas City'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 | 1205 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4095 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 6 · 792 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 59 µg/L 4.5% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2160 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 675 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 93.75 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 308 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 61.65 µg/L 77% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 73.5 µg/L — SUMNER CO RWD 4 · 1,157 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.9 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 6 · 792 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 22 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.9 µg/L — SUMNER CO RWD 4 · 1,157 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.4 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 22.75 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 23 µg/L — SUMNER CO RWD 4 · 1,157 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.5 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 14.9 µg/L 99% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 17 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.84 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 1 · 1,500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4.65 µg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 11.8 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 6 · 792 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 9.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 8.165 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.9 µg/L 1.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 7.175 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 1 · 1,500 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.175 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.5 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.5 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 3.01 µg/L — COWLEY CO RWD 6 · 792 people · 2018 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.525 µg/L — SUMNER CO RWD 4 · 1,157 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.5000 pCi/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 1.7 pCi/L — COWLEY CO RWD 3 · 2,500 people · 2014 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.4555 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2018 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| PFOS | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0011 mg/L 7.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0042 mg/L — SUMNER CO RWD 4 · 1,157 people · 2024 | 5/5 | LCR |
| PFHXS | 0.0034 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF · 11,929 people · 2024 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
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 Arkansas City
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ARKANSAS CITY, CITY OF | 11,929 |
| COWLEY CO RWD 3 | 2,500 |
| COWLEY CO RWD 1 | 1,500 |
| SUMNER CO RWD 4 | 1,157 |
| COWLEY CO RWD 6 | 792 |
Frequently asked questions about Arkansas City tap water
Is Arkansas City tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Arkansas City. 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 Arkansas City?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Arkansas City, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Arkansas City's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Arkansas City include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, TTHM. 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.