Drinking water quality · 2024
What's in Topeka, KS tap water
26 contaminants were measured in the Topeka, KS water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 26
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 2
- Worst contaminant
- HAA5
- Service area
- KS
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound detected in Topeka, 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.
PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Topeka, KS's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 2 sources.
Source
- INTAKE · 2
Treatment
- TP001
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based1 violation on record · most recent Jan 2018resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 10–64.2 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 32.6–69.1 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Approaching the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 3.3 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AtrazineA widely used agricultural herbicide that reaches water through runoff. | 0.14–1.8 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0–6 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.0025–0.045 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 48 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1.2 ug/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| AluminumA common element sometimes used as a treatment coagulant. | 0.051 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 42 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 5 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| PotassiumA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 6.9 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SilicaA naturally occurring compound from sand and rock. | 3.6 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 39 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.021–0.29 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 62–125 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 116–208 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 9.2–9.8RangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Specific ConductanceA measure of how well water conducts electricity, which tracks dissolved mineral content. | 330–842 uS/cmRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TOCTotal organic carbon — a measure of organic material dissolved in the water. | 0.99–2.22Reported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 250 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.35–0.6 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.62–1.3 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 44 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 67 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 0–0.97 %Reported levelSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Topeka, KS's water
+Is Topeka, KS tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Topeka, KS water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: HAA5. 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 Topeka, KS tap water?
26 contaminants were measured in Topeka, KS's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and inorganic chemicals. 4 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 Topeka, KS tap water?
One contaminant in Topeka, KS's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: HAA5 (1.1× 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 Topeka, KS tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is HAA5, at 1.1× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfection byproducts family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Topeka, KS tap water approaching the federal limit?
2 contaminants are between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: TTHM and Chloramine. 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 Topeka, KS's 2024 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 Topeka, 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 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.