Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MANHATTAN, CITY OF
MANHATTAN, CITY OF delivers tap water graded D (63/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 54,763 residents in MANHATTAN, Kansas using groundwater. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 785-587-4559.
Is MANHATTAN tap water safe to drink?
MANHATTAN, CITY OF delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (63/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including arsenic significantly above health guideline.
The utility serves 54,763 residents in MANHATTAN, drawing from groundwater.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Bromoform. 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.
Quick actions for MANHATTAN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MANHATTAN, CITY OF.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 2.2 ppb, 550x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.9 ppb, 281x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 27.8 ppb, 186x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact MANHATTAN, 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 MANHATTAN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis
$249-$750Arsenic is most effectively removed by reverse osmosis. Some specialized adsorptive filters also work.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
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 63/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
2.2 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 550× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 281× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
27.8 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 186× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.37 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 156× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 135× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
3.3 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 110× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.45 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 75× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
1.48 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.08 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 35× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
9.18 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.85 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
2.0 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
197.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
3.78 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.75 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
43.0 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
1.6 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.2 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.29 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.243 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
1.7 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
1.03 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.803 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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.
MANHATTAN, CITY OF service area
This water system serves 1 community in Riley County, Kansas. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MANHATTAN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.