Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Overland Park, KS tap water
38 contaminants were measured in the Overland Park, KS water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 4 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 38
- Over federal limit
- 4
- Approaching the limit
- 2
- Worst contaminant
- Specific Conductance
- Service area
- KS
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Overland Park, KS
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.1×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
● Below limitnear national p90 (12.049999999999997 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Lithium
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (76.59999999999991 mg/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Overland Park, KS buys its drinking water from WICHITA, CITY OF, CHISHOLM CREEK UTILITY AUTHORITY.
Source
Treatment
Distribution
Also buys water from WICHITA, CITY OF, CHISHOLM CREEK UTILITY AUTHORITY.
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
13 historically-detected contaminants in Overland Park, KS
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2014 | 0.023 mg/L within | 0.08 mg/L | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
HAA5 worst: 2019 | 0.015 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2012 | 0.036 mg/L below national p90 | — | '12'15'18 |
LEAD worst: 2015 | 0.0013 mg/L | — | '15'18 |
DBAA worst: 2013 | 0.0048 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2013 | 0.0014 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MBAA worst: 2013 | 0.00081 mg/L | — | '13'14'15'16'17'19 |
MCAA worst: 2018 | 0.002 mg/L | — | '18'19 |
TCAA worst: 2014 | 0.00058 mg/L | — | '14 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2014 | 0.0049 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2014 | 0.01 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2014 | 0.0031 mg/L | — | '14'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2014 | 0.0069 mg/L | — | '14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 510AverageSystem-wide | 1MCL | At or above the limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 9.6AverageSystem-wide | 8.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| OdorA measure of detectable smell in the water. | 3AverageSystem-wide | 3MCL | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 430AverageSystem-wide | 500MCL | Approaching the limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 137AverageSystem-wide | 400MCL | Within the limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 3AverageSystem-wide | 10MCL | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 66AverageSystem-wide | 300MCL | Within the limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.24Reported levelWaterOne | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0–17RangeWaterOne | 10MCL | At or above the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2–3.8RangeWaterOne | 4MRDL | Approaching the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 177AverageSystem-wide | 250MCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.5AverageSystem-wide | 2MCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 2.1Reported levelWaterOne | 10MCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 31AverageSystem-wide | 250MCL | Within the limit |
| BromideA naturally occurring salt found in source water. | 59AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Dichloroacetic acidA haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. | 8AverageSystem-wide | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 54AverageSystem-wide | 100MCL | Within the limit |
| SilicaA naturally occurring compound from sand and rock. | 10AverageSystem-wide | 50MCL | Within the limit |
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 0–1.3RangeWaterOne | 10MCL | Within the limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 12AverageSystem-wide | 150MCL | Within the limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 7.4AverageSystem-wide | 100MCL | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1.1–3.5RangeWaterOne | 50MCL | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.01–0.08RangeWaterOne | 2MCL | Within the limit |
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 2.6Reported levelWaterOne | 100MCL | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 4.9AverageSystem-wide | 200MCL | Within the limit |
| NickelA metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1.5AverageSystem-wide | 100MCL | Within the limit |
| ZincA naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. | 6.6AverageSystem-wide | 5000MCL | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 36AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 0.85Reported levelWaterOne | 5MCL | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle ActivityGross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. | 5.5Reported levelWaterOne | 50MCL | Within the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 0.44Reported levelWaterOne | 30MCL | Within the limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0–0.42RangeWaterOne | 0MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Overland Park, KS's water
+Is Overland Park, KS tap water safe to drink in 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Overland Park, KS water utility lists 4 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Specific Conductance, Bromate, pH, and Odor. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Overland Park, KS tap water?
38 contaminants were measured in Overland Park, KS's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 35 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Overland Park, KS tap water?
4 contaminants in Overland Park, KS's 2023 report sit at or above the federal limit: Specific Conductance (510.0× the limit); Bromate (1.7× the limit); pH (1.1× the limit); Odor (1.0× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Overland Park, KS tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is Specific Conductance, at 510.0× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Overland Park, KS tap water approaching the federal limit?
2 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Chloramine and Total Dissolved Solids. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Overland Park, KS's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Overland Park, KS's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.