What was found in Oswego'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 | 1950 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chlorite | 814 µg/L 81% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 189.5 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 144.5 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 148.5 µg/L — LABETTE CO RWD 5 · 1,635 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 110 µg/L 138% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 136 µg/L — LABETTE CO RWD 1C · 285 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 104.75 µg/L 5.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 85.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 97.8 µg/L — LABETTE CO RWD 1C · 285 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 94.45 µg/L 157% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 55.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 40.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41 µg/L — LABETTE CO RWD 1C · 285 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 28.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 12.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 11.46 µg/L 76% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 6.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.655 µg/L — LABETTE CO RWD 5 · 1,635 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 7.525 µg/L 251% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 3 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 3.8 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.425 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.63 µg/L — LABETTE CO RWD 1C · 285 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 1.295 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.1 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.7600 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0032 mg/L 21% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: OSWEGO, CITY OF · 1,680 people · 2024 | 3/3 | 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 Oswego
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| OSWEGO, CITY OF | 1,680 |
| LABETTE CO RWD 5 | 1,635 |
| LABETTE CO RWD 1C | 285 |
Frequently asked questions about Oswego tap water
Is Oswego tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Oswego. 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 Oswego?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Oswego, Kansas to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Oswego's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Oswego include Nitrate, Chlorite, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM. 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.