# Overland Park, KS — Drinking Water Quality (2023)

> Contaminant levels for the Overland Park, KS public water system from its 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, compared to federal limits.

- Page: https://www.thewatermap.com/water/ks/overland-park/2023
- JSON API: https://www.thewatermap.com/api/water/ks/overland-park/2023
- Source: the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- Verification: transcribed by a model, cross-checked by a second model, approved before publishing
- Reporting year: 2023
- Contaminants measured: 38
- Contaminants with a federal limit: 35
- Contaminants at or above the federal limit: 4
- Part of The Water Map — https://www.thewatermap.com

## Contaminants measured

| Contaminant | Category | Measured level | Sampling context | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chloramine | Disinfectants | 2–3.8 (Range) | WaterOne | 4 (MRDL) | Approaching the limit |
| Bromate | Disinfection byproducts | 0–17 (Range) | WaterOne | 10 (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Bromodichloromethane | Disinfection byproducts | 4.1 (Average) | System-wide | 0 (MCLG) | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chloroform | Disinfection byproducts | 18.3 (Average) | System-wide | 70 (MCLG) | Within the limit |
| HAA5 | Disinfection byproducts | 2.5–18 (Range) | WaterOne | 60 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| TTHM | Disinfection byproducts | 2.1–47 (Range) | WaterOne | 80 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Bromide | Inorganic chemicals | 59 (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chloride | Inorganic chemicals | 31 (Average) | System-wide | 250 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Dichloroacetic acid | Inorganic chemicals | 8 (Average) | System-wide | 0 (MCLG) | Detected — no federal limit |
| Fluoride | Inorganic chemicals | 0.5 (Average) | System-wide | 2 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nitrate | Inorganic chemicals | 2.1 (Reported level) | WaterOne | 10 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Sulfate | Inorganic chemicals | 177 (Average) | System-wide | 250 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Aluminum | Metals | 4.9 (Average) | System-wide | 200 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Arsenic | Metals | 0–1.3 (Range) | WaterOne | 10 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Barium | Metals | 0.01–0.08 (Range) | WaterOne | 2 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Calcium | Metals | 36 (Average) | System-wide | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Chromium, Total | Metals | 2.6 (Reported level) | WaterOne | 100 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Copper | Metals | 3.2 (Average) | System-wide | 1000 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Lead | Metals | 6.5 (Reported level) | WaterOne | 15 (Action level) | Within the limit |
| Magnesium | Metals | 12 (Average) | System-wide | 150 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Nickel | Metals | 1.5 (Average) | System-wide | 100 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Potassium | Metals | 7.4 (Average) | System-wide | 100 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Selenium | Metals | 1.1–3.5 (Range) | WaterOne | 50 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Silica | Metals | 10 (Average) | System-wide | 50 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Sodium | Metals | 54 (Average) | System-wide | 100 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Zinc | Metals | 6.6 (Average) | System-wide | 5000 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Total Coliform | Microbial | 0–0.42 (Range) | WaterOne | 0 (MCLG) | Detected — no federal limit |
| Alkalinity | Physical & aggregate | 66 (Average) | System-wide | 300 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Hardness | Physical & aggregate | 137 (Average) | System-wide | 400 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Odor | Physical & aggregate | 3 (Average) | System-wide | 3 (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| pH | Physical & aggregate | 9.6 (Average) | System-wide | 8.5 (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| Specific Conductance | Physical & aggregate | 510 (Average) | System-wide | 1 (MCL) | At or above the limit |
| TOC | Physical & aggregate | 3 (Average) | System-wide | 10 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Total Dissolved Solids | Physical & aggregate | 430 (Average) | System-wide | 500 (MCL) | Approaching the limit |
| Turbidity | Physical & aggregate | 0.24 (Reported level) | WaterOne | No federal limit | Detected — no federal limit |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 0.85 (Reported level) | WaterOne | 5 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Gross Beta Particle Activity | Radionuclides | 5.5 (Reported level) | WaterOne | 50 (MCL) | Within the limit |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 0.44 (Reported level) | WaterOne | 30 (MCL) | Within the limit |

## What these contaminants are

- **Chloramine** — A longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. Holds disinfection further into the pipe network, but is regulated under the same residual-disinfectant cap as chlorine.
- **Bromate** — A disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. Classified as a probable human carcinogen; the EPA sets a strict maximum contaminant level.
- **Bromodichloromethane** — A trihalomethane disinfection byproduct. Counted within regulated total trihalomethanes; long-term exposure is associated with cancer and reproductive effects.
- **Chloroform** — A trihalomethane formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. A component of regulated total trihalomethanes; long-term exposure is linked to liver and kidney effects.
- **HAA5** — Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is associated with an increased cancer risk.
- **TTHM** — Total trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. Long-term exposure above the federal limit is linked to liver, kidney, and central-nervous-system effects and increased cancer risk.
- **Bromide** — A naturally occurring salt found in source water. Not directly regulated, but a precursor that increases formation of brominated disinfection byproducts.
- **Chloride** — A naturally occurring salt compound. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a salty taste and can corrode pipes.
- **Dichloroacetic acid** — A haloacetic acid disinfection byproduct. One of the five haloacetic acids regulated together as HAA5 for cancer risk.
- **Fluoride** — A mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. Beneficial at low levels, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause bone disease and tooth mottling.
- **Nitrate** — A compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. Levels above the federal limit can cause 'blue baby syndrome,' a serious oxygen-transport condition in infants.
- **Sulfate** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. No health-based federal limit; high levels can have a laxative effect and a bitter taste.
- **Aluminum** — A common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels can discolor water.
- **Arsenic** — A naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. A known human carcinogen; long-term exposure is linked to skin, bladder, and lung cancer.
- **Barium** — A metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can raise blood pressure.
- **Calcium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Chromium, Total** — Total chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause allergic dermatitis; includes hexavalent chromium.
- **Copper** — A metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. Short-term exposure causes stomach distress; long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.
- **Lead** — A toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. There is no safe level of lead; it harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. The EPA sets an action level, not a health goal above zero.
- **Magnesium** — A naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling and taste.
- **Nickel** — A metal from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Long-term exposure can cause skin and other effects; monitored under EPA rules.
- **Potassium** — A naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. Not federally regulated for health.
- **Selenium** — A trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. Essential in tiny amounts, but long-term exposure above the federal limit can cause hair and fingernail loss and circulatory problems.
- **Silica** — A naturally occurring compound from sand and rock. Not federally regulated for health; relevant mainly for industrial water use.
- **Sodium** — A naturally occurring salt component. Not federally regulated for health; relevant for people on sodium-restricted diets.
- **Zinc** — A naturally occurring metal that can also enter water from corroding pipes. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels cause a metallic taste.
- **Total Coliform** — A group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. Coliforms themselves are usually harmless, but their presence signals that disease-causing organisms could enter the system.
- **Alkalinity** — A measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. Not federally regulated for health; relevant to corrosion control and treatment.
- **Hardness** — A measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. Not federally regulated for health; affects scaling, soap use, and taste.
- **Odor** — A measure of detectable smell in the water. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard.
- **pH** — A measure of how acidic or basic the water is. Regulated only as a secondary standard; very low or high pH can corrode pipes or affect taste.
- **Specific Conductance** — A measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. Not federally regulated for health; used as a proxy for total dissolved solids.
- **TOC** — Total organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. Not harmful itself, but it is the raw material that forms disinfection byproducts; removal is a treatment requirement.
- **Total Dissolved Solids** — Total dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. Regulated only as a secondary (cosmetic) standard; high levels affect taste and hardness.
- **Turbidity** — A measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. High turbidity can shelter microbes from disinfection; the EPA enforces it through a treatment-technique standard.
- **Combined Radium** — Combined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. Long-term exposure above the federal limit increases the risk of bone cancer.
- **Gross Beta Particle Activity** — Gross beta particle activity — a combined measure of beta-emitting radioactive substances. Long-term exposure above the federal screening level increases cancer risk.
- **Uranium** — A naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. Long-term exposure above the federal limit can damage the kidneys and increase cancer risk.

## How to read this

- A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
- 'Federal limit' is the EPA standard (MCL, action level, treatment technique, etc.) that the measured level is compared against.
- 'At or above the federal limit' means the utility's own reported figure met or exceeded that standard.

_Figures are the utility's own published numbers. Generated 2026-05-25 from thewatermap.com._