What was found in Columbus'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 | 3040 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 19 · 1 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 1480 µg/L 148% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 19 · 1 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 996 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 160 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 274.8 µg/L — PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 19 · 1 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 128 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 34.6 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 64.75 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 41.1 µg/L 69% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 53 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 26.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 46.75 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 15.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 19 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.75 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 17.55 µg/L 117% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.995 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.5 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.36 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.8 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.695 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.06 µg/L — PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 19 · 1 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.78 µg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 7.765 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 4.936 µg/L 165% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 3 µg/L Highest in the city: PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 19 · 1 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 3.2 pCi/L 64% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.76 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.61 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.46 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 2,882 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0024 mg/L — CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 · 1,900 people · 2025 | 2/3 | 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 Columbus
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| COLUMBUS, CITY OF | 2,882 |
| CHEROKEE CO RWD 3 | 1,900 |
| PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 19 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions about Columbus tap water
Is Columbus tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Columbus. 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 Columbus?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Columbus, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Columbus's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Columbus include Nitrate, Chlorite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. 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.