Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in Wichita, Kansas

Served by Wichita Water Authority. 397,000 residents.

Average score 53/100
Utilities 1
Population 397,000
Quick answer

Tap water in Wichita, Kansas receives a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by Wichita Water Authority. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected; Radium-228 detected. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and Wichita's published Consumer Confidence Report.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv ⓘ How did we get this rating?
Sample data notice: Some or all data on this page is illustrative sample data, not live measurements. See our disclaimer and data sources.

What's in Wichita's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Wichita.

Arsenic significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Arsenic detected at 6.07 ppb, 1518x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.

Chromium-6 detected

Moderate concern

Chromium-6 detected at 0.53 ppb.

Radium-228 detected

Moderate concern

Radium-228 detected at 0.46 pCi/L.

Recommended filters for Wichita

Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Wichita's water supply.

Reverse Osmosis

$249-$750

Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

Reverse Osmosis or water softener

$249-$750

RO removes radium effectively; ion-exchange water softeners also reduce radium concentration.

AquaTru Countertop Reverse Osmosis
$449-$599 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Aquasana OptimH2O Reverse Osmosis + Claryum
$429-$549 NSF 42, 53, 58, 401, P473
Editorial pick · affiliate link coming soon
Waterdrop G3P800 Tankless RO
$600-$750 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →
Waterdrop N1 Countertop RO
$249-$329 NSF 58, 372
View on retailer →

Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.

All contaminants detected in Wichita's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

Sample test dates: Water samples were collected in 2024. Test dates per contaminant are shown in the table below.

Contaminant Detected EWG
US health-based
EPA
US legal
EU DWD
Europe
WHO
global
CA PHG
strictest US
Tested
sample year
Status
Arsenic
Heavy metal
6.07 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 2023 1518× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
22.5 ppb 0.1 60 60 2022 225× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
59.0 ppb 0.6 80 100 2022 98× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.611 ppb 0.02 0.02 2022 31× over
Radium-228
Radiological
0.46 pCi/L 0.019 5 0.1 0.019 2024 24× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
2.29 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 2022 16× over
Contaminant Detected (2024) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Radium-228
Radiological
0.46 pCi/L 0.019 5 0.1 0.019 24× over
Contaminant Detected (2023) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Arsenic
Heavy metal
6.07 ppb 0.004 10 10 10 0.004 1518× over
Contaminant Detected (2022) EWG EPA EU DWD WHO CA PHG Status
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)
Disinfection byproduct
22.5 ppb 0.1 60 60 225× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Disinfection byproduct
59.0 ppb 0.6 80 100 98× over
Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)
Heavy metal
0.611 ppb 0.02 0.02 31× over
Nitrate
Inorganic
2.29 mg/L 0.14 10 11.3 11.3 10 16× over

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.

Treatment plant contact info

For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from Wichita Water Authority.

Treatment Plant

FacilityWichita Water Treatment Plant
Location1890 Treatment Plant Road, Wichita, KS
Operator certificationClass A (State certified)
Treatment capacity79 million gallons/day

ZIP codes served

Wichita's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: