Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
LAWRENCE, CITY OF
LAWRENCE, CITY OF delivers tap water graded B (78/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 95,256 residents in LAWRENCE, Kansas using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at 785-813-9305.
Is LAWRENCE tap water safe to drink?
LAWRENCE, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of B (78/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a good rating, with only minor concerns relative to health-based guidelines.
The utility serves 95,256 residents in LAWRENCE, drawing from surface water. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to perfluorohexane sulfonate (pfhxs) significantly above health guideline.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Arsenic, Nitrate, Chlorate, Atrazine. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for LAWRENCE, CITY OF (system ID KS2004503) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for LAWRENCE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for LAWRENCE, CITY OF.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.86 ppt, 1863x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 33.3 ppb, 555x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 49.8 ppb, 332x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Arsenic detected
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.225 ppb.
Contact LAWRENCE, CITY OF
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for LAWRENCE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 78/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.86 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1863× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
33.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 555× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
49.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 332× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 251× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.15 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 57× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.225 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 56× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.258 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 1.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
350.0 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.7× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.123 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Fails EU |
| Vanadium Other |
2.37 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
50.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
2.44 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.817 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
38.2 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
14.3 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| 2,4-D Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.129 ppb | 20.0 | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
2.78 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.165 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Xylenes (total) Volatile organic compound |
0.0229 ppb | 1800.0 | 10000.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromide Other |
39.8 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.46 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.431 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
11.2 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
LAWRENCE, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Douglas County, Kansas. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for LAWRENCE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.