Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
KANSAS CITY PWS
KANSAS CITY PWS delivers tap water graded C (67/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 513,800 residents in KANSAS CITY, Missouri using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 816-513-0110.
Is KANSAS CITY tap water safe to drink?
KANSAS CITY PWS delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (67/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 513,800 residents in KANSAS CITY, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Chromium (hexavalent), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dichloroacetic acid, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Nitrate, Nitrate and nitrite, Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid. 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 KANSAS CITY residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for KANSAS CITY PWS.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 16.8 ppb, 279x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Chromium (hexavalent) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernChromium (hexavalent) detected at 2.53 ppb, 126x above the EWG health guideline of 0.02 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 11.1 ppb, 111x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact KANSAS CITY PWS
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 KANSAS CITY
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 67/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
16.8 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 279× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
2.53 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 126× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
11.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 111× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.87 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
6.64 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.864 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
5.78 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.42 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
1.42 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 10× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.791 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.9× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.162 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.4× over |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0986 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
1.93 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
2.95 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
1.15 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
15.1 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
23.8 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.284 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.07 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.015 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.643 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Lithium Other |
39.2 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.
KANSAS CITY PWS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Cass County, Missouri. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for KANSAS CITY water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.