Is Lawrence, KS Tap Water Safe? Quality & Contaminants

What was found in Lawrence's water

The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.

Contaminant	Level vs EPA limit	Suppliers	Source
Nitrate	1400 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L	2/6	SYR4
Copper	1200 µg/L 92% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L	5/6	SYR4
Fluoride	700 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L	2/6	SYR4
Barium	120 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L	2/6	SYR4
TTHM	110 µg/L 138% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L	5/6	SYR4
Chloroform	79 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)	56 µg/L 93% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L	5/6	SYR4
Dichloroacetic Acid	38 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Bromodichloromethane	33 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Lithium	27.3 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/6	UCMR-5
Lead	27 µg/L 180% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L	5/6	SYR4
Dibromochloromethane	22 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Trichloroacetic Acid	18 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Monochloroacetic Acid	14 µg/L No EPA limit set	3/6	SYR4
Selenium	11 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L	2/6	SYR4
Bromoform	8.6 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Dibromoacetic Acid	8.1 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Monobromoacetic Acid	5.8 µg/L No EPA limit set	4/6	SYR4
Arsenic	3.5 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L	2/6	SYR4
Chromium	3.3 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L	2/6	SYR4
Atrazine	3 µg/L 100% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L	1/6	SYR4
Combined Radium (-226 And -228)	1.6 pCi/L 32% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L	2/6	SYR4
Bromate	1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L	1/6	SYR4
Picloram	0.2000 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 500 µg/L	1/6	SYR4
Pfba	0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set	2/6	UCMR-5
Lead	0.0053 mg/L 35% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L	5/6	LCR
PFHXS	0.0042 µg/L No EPA limit set	1/6	UCMR-5

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 single worst sample on record — 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 Lawrence

Supplier	Population served
LAWRENCE, CITY OF	95,256
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS	35,000
DOUGLAS CO RWD 5	2,500
JEFFERSON CO RWD 13	2,115
DOUGLAS CO RWD 1	1,400
PUBLIC WHOLESALE WSD 25	1

Frequently asked questions about Lawrence tap water

Is Lawrence tap water safe to drink?

EPA testing detected 27 contaminants in the water serving Lawrence. 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 Lawrence?

6 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lawrence, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.

What contaminants are in Lawrence's water?

The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lawrence include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, TTHM. The full list, with the highest level found 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.