What was found in Wichita'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 | 1300 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 164.483 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 532 µg/L — MCCONNELL AFB · 6,009 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 342.5 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 70.15 µg/L 3.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 40 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 21.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 24.3 µg/L — MCCONNELL AFB · 6,009 people · 2023 | 2/2 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 18.797 µg/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.1 µg/L — MCCONNELL AFB · 6,009 people · 2018 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 20 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 14 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 12 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 11 µg/L 110% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 9.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.85 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.57 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.705 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.695 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.165 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.86 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.1 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| P-Dichlorobenzene | 1 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 75 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.4550 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0014 mg/L 9.5% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WICHITA, CITY OF · 395,699 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0030 mg/L — MCCONNELL AFB · 6,009 people · 2024 | 2/2 | 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 Wichita
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WICHITA, CITY OF | 395,699 |
| MCCONNELL AFB | 6,009 |
Frequently asked questions about Wichita tap water
Is Wichita tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Wichita. 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 Wichita?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Wichita, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Wichita's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Wichita include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, 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.