What was found in Emporia'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 | 864 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 630.5 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 44.4 µg/L 3.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 282 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 5 · 1,310 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 4.58 µg/L 5.7% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 166.5 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 90.5 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 10.4 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 46.25 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.025 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 34.95 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 28.65 µg/L 287% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.625 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 28 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 22.25 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 21.85 µg/L 146% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 0.7020 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.1 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 19.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 8.465 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.905 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 5 · 1,310 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.615 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.22 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.725 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 0.9480 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.11 µg/L — LYON CO RWD 5 · 1,310 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.02 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.475 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.285 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 1.14 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0033 mg/L 22% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: EMPORIA, CITY OF · 24,009 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0046 mg/L — LYON CO RWD 1 · 1,595 people · 2025 | 5/5 | 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 Emporia
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| EMPORIA, CITY OF | 24,009 |
| LYON CO RWD 1 | 1,595 |
| LYON CO RWD 5 | 1,310 |
| LYON CO RWD 2 | 750 |
| PARK PLACE COMMUNITIES MGT LLC | 200 |
Frequently asked questions about Emporia tap water
Is Emporia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 22 contaminants in the water serving Emporia. 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 Emporia?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Emporia, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Emporia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Emporia include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.