What was found in Ottawa'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 812.5 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 355 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 607.5 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 5 · 855 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 76.95 µg/L 5.9% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 246.5 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 5 · 855 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 89.65 µg/L 112% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 195 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 62.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 150 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 69 µg/L 115% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 123.8 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 52.3 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 83.1 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 5 · 855 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 16.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 81.8 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 49 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 52.2 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 1 · 665 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 29 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 38.5 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 11 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 10.5 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.37 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.195 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 5 · 855 people · 2017 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.615 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.215 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.31 µg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.78 pCi/L 36% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: FRANKLIN CO RWD 5 · 855 people · 2015 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 1.755 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.66 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.3 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.8100 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0067 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0023 mg/L 15% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: OTTAWA, CITY OF · 12,604 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0034 mg/L — FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 · 400 people · 2023 | 4/4 | 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 Ottawa
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| OTTAWA, CITY OF | 12,604 |
| FRANKLIN CO RWD 5 | 855 |
| FRANKLIN CO RWD 1 | 665 |
| FRANKLIN CO RWD 2 | 400 |
Frequently asked questions about Ottawa tap water
Is Ottawa tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Ottawa. 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 Ottawa?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Ottawa, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ottawa's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ottawa include Fluoride, Nitrate, 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.