What was found in Independence'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 | 811 µg/L 8.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 709.4 µg/L 71% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 417 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 27 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 275.5 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 63.95 µg/L 3.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 52.8 µg/L 66% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 62.05 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 22.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 43.95 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 33.955 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42.05 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.005 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 32.365 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 1 · 175 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.25 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 8 · 340 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.65 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.855 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.65 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.06 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.65 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 6 · 1,092 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.285 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 7.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.99 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.65 µg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 · 800 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 3.425 µg/L 114% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 3 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.205 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.65 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.3 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lasso | 0.4000 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0019 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF · 8,464 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0070 mg/L — MONTGOMERY CO RWD 8 · 340 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 Independence
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| INDEPENDENCE, CITY OF | 8,464 |
| MONTGOMERY CO RWD 6 | 1,092 |
| MONTGOMERY CO RWD 2 | 800 |
| MONTGOMERY CO RWD 8 | 340 |
| MONTGOMERY CO RWD 1 | 175 |
Frequently asked questions about Independence tap water
Is Independence tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Independence. 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 Independence?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Independence, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Independence's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Independence 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.