What was found in Lawrence'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 | 1085 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 618.5 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 250 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 470.5 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO RWD 1 · 1,400 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 97.95 µg/L 4.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 119 µg/L — JEFFERSON CO RWD 13 · 2,115 people · 2017 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 77.6 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 88 µg/L — UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS · 35,000 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 63.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO RWD 5 · 2,500 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 44.325 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 48 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO RWD 1 · 1,400 people · 2019 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO RWD 1 · 1,400 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 27.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2023 | 2/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS · 35,000 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 16.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO RWD 5 · 2,500 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS · 35,000 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.54 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 11.8 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO RWD 5 · 2,500 people · 2017 | 5/6 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 10.255 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO RWD 1 · 1,400 people · 2019 | 3/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7.775 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: JEFFERSON CO RWD 13 · 2,115 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 6.32 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.59 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS · 35,000 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.78 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO RWD 1 · 1,400 people · 2019 | 4/6 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.12 µg/L 3.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.01 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 1.995 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.555 pCi/L 31% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2014 | 2/6 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2012 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Picloram | 0.2000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2019 | 1/6 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2023 | 2/6 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0053 mg/L — UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS · 35,000 people · 2023 | 5/6 | LCR |
| PFHXS | 0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LAWRENCE, CITY OF · 95,256 people · 2023 | 1/6 | 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 Lawrence
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LAWRENCE, CITY OF | 95,256 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS | 35,000 |
| DOUGLAS CO RWD 5 | 2,500 |
| JEFFERSON CO RWD 13 | 2,115 |
| DOUGLAS CO RWD 1 | 1,400 |
| PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 25 | 1 |
Frequently asked questions about Lawrence tap water
Is Lawrence tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Lawrence. 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 Lawrence?
6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lawrence, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lawrence's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lawrence include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, 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.