Well water in Cowley County, Kansas
In Cowley County, 4% of 48 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for lead (15 ug/L), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal.
48 individual samples from 30 wells, 1963 to 1989. Data refreshed September 3, 2026.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Cowley 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead 1981 to 1989 | 48 | 33% | 4% | 0 | 320 | 15 ug/L EPA limit |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Fluoride (2), Copper (2), Radium (226 + 228) (1), Iron (1), Chloride (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are lead (4% of 48 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.
Iron and Chloride are widespread in local groundwater. They are mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.
What to test for in Cowley County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)139 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel2 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Lead4% of 48 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- IronDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.
Contamination sources on record in Cowley County
KDHE records 139 leaking underground storage tank sites and 2 hazardous waste sites in Cowley County, among 197 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.
- 139
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 2
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 43
- other remediation projects
- 13
- other solid waste facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- 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
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Cowley 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 Cowley County.
Common questions
How often should I test a private well in Cowley 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: 55 samples in Cowley 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: 197 regulated sites located in Cowley 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.