Well water in Cherokee County, Kansas
In Cherokee County, 11% of 81 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for lead (15 ug/L), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal.
81 individual samples from 51 wells, 1942 to 2006. Data refreshed September 3, 2026.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Cherokee County. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.
| Contaminant | Samples | Detected | Above limit | Median | Highest | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radium (226 + 228) 1981 to 1989 | 27 | 100% | 15% | 1.7 | 11 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1977 to 2006 | 81 | 83% | 11% | 0 | 2,600 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1993 to 2006 | 10 | 90% | 0% | 0.235 | 0.93 | 30 ug/L EPA limit |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Nitrate (3), Fluoride (1), Arsenic (1), Manganese (4), Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are radium (226 + 228) (15% of 27 samples) and lead (11% of 81 samples). A well next door can differ sharply from yours because bedrock fractures, well depth and plumbing all matter, so these rates describe the area, not your tap.
Manganese is widespread in local groundwater. It is mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.
What to test for in Cherokee County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)81 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel21 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Radium (226 + 228)15% of 27 local samples were above the limit.
- Lead11% of 81 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 130 pCi/L.
- NitrateAbove the limit in 1 of 3 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 100% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Cherokee County
KDHE records 81 leaking underground storage tank sites and 21 hazardous waste sites in Cherokee County, among 154 regulated sites in total. Groundwater does not follow property lines, so a well within a few hundred feet of one of these is worth testing for what that site could release.
- 81
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 21
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 23
- other remediation projects
- 29
- other solid waste facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Radium (226 + 228)
- Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
- Lead
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Certified lead-removal carbon filter; Neutralizing filter to raise pH and stop leaching
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Manganese
- Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Get your Cherokee County water tested at home
A licensed local water treatment company tests your tap water in your home, walks you through the numbers, and quotes treatment only if something needs fixing. Free, about 30 minutes, no obligation. Tell us what you need and we match you with a company that serves Cherokee County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Cherokee County?
Arsenic was detected in 100% of 1 public well samples in Cherokee County, and 0% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How high is radon in well water in Cherokee County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Cherokee County was 130 pCi/L, with a high of 130 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Cherokee County?
Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 128 samples in Cherokee County. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- KDHE regulated sites: 154 regulated sites located in Cherokee County. Identified contaminated sites, leaking underground storage tank facilities and solid waste facilities from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.