What was found in Manhattan'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 | 300 µg/L 3% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3500 µg/L — RIVERCHASE MOBILE HOME PARK · 460 people · 2019 | 6/11 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 877.5 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019 | 5/11 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 14 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 336 µg/L — ROCKY FORD MOBILE HOME COURT · 120 people · 2017 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 52.2 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 208.5 µg/L — RIVERCHASE MOBILE HOME PARK · 460 people · 2017 | 6/11 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 18 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 83.3 µg/L — COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT · 1,200 people · 2019 | 7/11 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 72.2 µg/L — COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT · 1,200 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 34.5 µg/L 43% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019 | 7/11 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 17.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2025 | 1/11 | UCMR-5 |
| Chloroform | 15.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.4 µg/L — COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT · 1,200 people · 2019 | 7/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.85 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 13.725 µg/L — COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT · 1,200 people · 2017 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019 | 7/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019 | 8/11 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.18 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 6.32 µg/L — ROCKY FORD MOBILE HOME COURT · 120 people · 2017 | 6/11 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.56 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.8 µg/L — COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT · 1,200 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.695 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.27 µg/L — COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT · 1,200 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.195 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.175 µg/L — RILEY CO RWD 1 · 2,108 people · 2019 | 7/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.71 µg/L — KONZA VALLEY WATER BENEFIT DISTRICT · 345 people · 2017 | 8/11 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 2.635 µg/L — ROCKY FORD MOBILE HOME COURT · 120 people · 2017 | 5/11 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.49 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.8000 pCi/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 2 pCi/L — WALNUT GROVE MHC BROOKS · 203 people · 2019 | 4/11 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3100 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.6 µg/L — WALNUT GROVE MHC BROOKS · 203 people · 2018 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| P-Dichlorobenzene | 1.6 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 75 µg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2017 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.6175 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: NEIGHBORS OF WALNUT GROVE, LLC · 256 people · 2018 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 0.5870 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: NEIGHBORS OF WALNUT GROVE, LLC · 256 people · 2018 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0019 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MANHATTAN, CITY OF · 54,763 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0035 mg/L — RIVERCHASE MOBILE HOME PARK · 460 people · 2023 | 11/11 | 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 Manhattan
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MANHATTAN, CITY OF | 54,763 |
| RILEY CO RWD 1 | 2,108 |
| COLONIAL GARDENS MOBILE HOME CT | 1,200 |
| RIVERCHASE MOBILE HOME PARK | 460 |
| KONZA VALLEY WATER BENEFIT DISTRICT | 345 |
| NEIGHBORS OF WALNUT GROVE, LLC | 256 |
| WALNUT GROVE MHC BROOKS | 203 |
| HUNTERS ISLAND WATER DISTRICT | 200 |
| UNIVERSITY PARK WATER DISTRICT | 199 |
| ROCKY FORD MOBILE HOME COURT | 120 |
| TUTTLE CC MOBILE HOME PARK, LLC | 50 |
Frequently asked questions about Manhattan tap water
Is Manhattan tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving Manhattan. 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 Manhattan?
11 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Manhattan, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Manhattan's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Manhattan include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). 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.