What was found in Atchison's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 3990 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 460 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 143 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 250 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 108.5 µg/L 136% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 123.6 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 3 · 110 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 106.5 µg/L 5.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 61.5 µg/L 102% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 100.5 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 76.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 91.15 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 60.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 31.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 54.45 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 40.15 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 23 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 3 · 110 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.51 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.675 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 7.785 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.2 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 1 · 490 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 7.95 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 5.62 µg/L 187% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 3 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.24 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3.13 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.2 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 1 · 490 people · 2017 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.965 µg/L 7.9% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3.15 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.53 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.18 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 1.3 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2017 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.8500 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.9575 µg/L — ATCHISON CO RWD 6 · 670 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0015 mg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: ATCHISON, CITY OF · 10,694 people · 2023 | 4/4 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Atchison
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| ATCHISON, CITY OF | 10,694 |
| ATCHISON CO RWD 6 | 670 |
| ATCHISON CO RWD 1 | 490 |
| ATCHISON CO RWD 3 | 110 |
Frequently asked questions about Atchison tap water
Is Atchison tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Atchison. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Atchison?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Atchison, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Atchison's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Atchison include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.