Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
Wichita Water Authority
Wichita Water Authority delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 397,000 residents in Wichita, Kansas using surface water blended with groundwater from the Cheney Reservoir/Equus Beds. The most significant water quality concerns are: Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected; Radium-228 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (316) 957-8955.
Is Wichita tap water safe to drink?
Wichita Water Authority delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 397,000 residents in Wichita, drawing from surface water blended with groundwater (Cheney Reservoir/Equus Beds) and disinfecting with chloramine.
Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Arsenic, Arsenic, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Radium-228, Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Radium-228, Radium-228, Nitrate, Nitrate, Nitrate. 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.
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Wichita Water Authority.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 6.07 ppb, 1518x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.53 ppb.
Radium-228 detected
Moderate concernRadium-228 detected at 0.46 pCi/L.
Contact Wichita Water Authority
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Wichita
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.
Reverse Osmosis or water softener
$249-$750RO removes radium effectively; ion-exchange water softeners also reduce radium concentration.
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 53/100 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 |
6.07 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2023 | 1518× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.8 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2022 | 1450× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.0 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2024 | 1250× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
22.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 225× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 211× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
20.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 201× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
59.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 98× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.5 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 79× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 75× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.611 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 31× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.53 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 26× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.46 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2024 | 24× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.483 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 24× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.427 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2023 | 22× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.324 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2022 | 17× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.29 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 16× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.18 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 16× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.8 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 13× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.5 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 79× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
20.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 201× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.0 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 1250× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.46 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 24× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.53 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 26× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.8 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 13× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.2 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 75× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 211× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
6.07 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 1518× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.427 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 22× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.483 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 24× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.18 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 16× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
59.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 98× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
22.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 225× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.8 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 1450× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.324 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 17× 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database, and Wichita Water Authority's Consumer Confidence Report.
Wichita Water Authority service area
This water system serves 1 community in Sedgwick County, Kansas. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Wichita water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.