Is Kansas City, KS tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Water District 1 of Johnson County. 1 PFAS were detected below the limits.
2 public water systems serve parts of Kansas City. The largest, Water District 1 of Johnson County, serves 490,000 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Water District 1 of Johnson County
490,000 people · Surface water · EPA ID KS2009110
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 6.48 ppb at the 90th percentile (Dec 2023, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Kansas, 3 of 102 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 3 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Kansas results.
Kansas City homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Kansas City city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Which system serves your ZIP code
Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.
| System | ZIP codes in Kansas City |
|---|---|
| Kansas City Board of Public Utilities 152,960 people | 66101, 66102, 66103, 66104, 66105, 66109, 66111, 66112, 66115, 66118, 66160 |
| Water District 1 of Johnson County 490,000 people | 66106 |
Other water systems serving Kansas City
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth 17 mi Leavenworth Water Department | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Olathe 17 mi City of Olathe | None above limits | 11 ppb |
| Gardner 24 mi City of Gardner | None above limits | 3.1 ppb |
| Lawrence 30 mi City of Lawrence | None above limits | 3 ppb |
| Topeka 51 mi City of Topeka | None above limits | 1.4 ppb |
| Manhattan 100 mi City of Manhattan | None above limits | 0.8 ppb |
Questions
Is Kansas City tap water safe to drink?
Water District 1 of Johnson County has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Kansas City, KS?
2 public water systems serve parts of Kansas City. The largest is Water District 1 of Johnson County (490,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Kansas City tap water have PFAS?
Water District 1 of Johnson County had 1 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Kansas City homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 76% of Kansas City homes as built before 1980 (Kansas: 56%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Water District 1 of Johnson County's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.