What was found in Great Bend'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 | 8900 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 705 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 324 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 343.5 µg/L — BARTON CO RWD 2 · 368 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 51.95 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 92.4 µg/L — BARTON CO RWD 2 · 368 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 41.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 41.2 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.425 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 22.8 µg/L — BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE · 1,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 17.25 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 14.25 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 4.585 µg/L 31% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 13.05 µg/L — BARTON CO RWD 2 · 368 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 7.7 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.43 µg/L — BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE · 1,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.01 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 9.58 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.26 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.97 µg/L — BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE · 1,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.8 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.07 µg/L — BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE · 1,000 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | 3.73 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: BARTON HILLS ADDITION · 176 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 2.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.74 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 2 pCi/L 40% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 1.46 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3361 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.1100 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0690 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0600 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0250 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpes | 0.0180 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0130 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| 6:2 Fts | 0.0100 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0052 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0035 mg/L 23% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GREAT BEND, CITY OF · 14,580 people · 2024 | 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 Great Bend
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GREAT BEND, CITY OF | 14,580 |
| BARTON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE | 1,000 |
| BARTON CO RWD 2 | 368 |
| BARTON HILLS ADDITION | 176 |
Frequently asked questions about Great Bend tap water
Is Great Bend tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 34 contaminants in the water serving Great Bend. 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 Great Bend?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Great Bend, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Great Bend's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Great Bend include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Lithium. 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.