What was found in Topeka'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 31 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2300 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 2C · 700 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 1750 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 813 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 80.045 µg/L 133% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 120 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 3C · 2,675 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 64.4 µg/L 81% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 82.1 µg/L — METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY · 500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 80.25 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SHAWNEE CO RWD 3C · 2,675 people · 2015 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 50.9 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 78.95 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C · 12,000 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 24.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2012
Highest in the city: 74.8 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 3C · 2,675 people · 2015 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.695 µg/L 51% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42.6 µg/L — METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY · 500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 42 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SHAWNEE CO RWD 3C · 2,675 people · 2015 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 18.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 21 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C · 12,000 people · 2025 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 14.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2012
Highest in the city: 19 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 3C · 2,675 people · 2015 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 12.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY · 500 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 5.975 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.265 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C · 12,000 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.67 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2012
Highest in the city: 9.37 µg/L — METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY · 500 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.19 µg/L 1.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.735 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C · 12,000 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 5.22 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY · 500 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.216 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY · 500 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.61 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.09 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C · 12,000 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.725 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SHAWNEE CO RWD 2C · 700 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 1.7 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0051 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0058 µg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C · 12,000 people · 2025 | 2/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0024 mg/L 16% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: TOPEKA, CITY OF · 125,963 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0029 mg/L — SHAWNEE CO RWD 2C · 700 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 Topeka
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| TOPEKA, CITY OF | 125,963 |
| SHAWNEE CO RWD 4C | 12,000 |
| SHAWNEE CO RWD 3C | 2,675 |
| SHAWNEE CO RWD 2C | 700 |
| METRO TOPEKA AIRPORT AUTHORITY | 500 |
Frequently asked questions about Topeka tap water
Is Topeka tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Topeka. 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 Topeka?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Topeka, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Topeka's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Topeka include Copper, Nitrate, Fluoride, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), 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.