Well water in Harvey County, Kansas
In Harvey County, 29% of 86 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for arsenic (10 ug/L), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal and Kansas Geological Survey groundwater quality samples.
1,521 individual samples from 187 wells, 1939 to 2016. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.
These are KGS and groundwater management district sampling wells, not a survey of homeowners' wells.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Harvey 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic 1997 to 2016 | 86 | 93% | 29% | 6.95 | 55 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Nitrate 1965 to 2014 | 102 | 68% | 4% | 0.01 | 23.8 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| E. coli 2002 to 2016 | 1,521 | <1% | <1% | 0 | 29 | 0 MPN/100mL EPA limit | |
| Lead 1977 to 2016 | 1,256 | 11% | 0% | 0 | 2 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1996 to 2016 | 48 | 100% | 0% | 0.3 | 0.73 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2002 to 2015 | 30 | 97% | 0% | 0.309 | 5.7 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1996 to 2016 | 29 | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1941 to 2016 | 179 | 99% | no limit | 56 | 1,324 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1939 to 2016 | 71 | 99% | no limit | 350 | 2,230 | 300 ug/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1939 to 2013 | 57 | 91% | no limit | 501 | 40,700 | 300 ug/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1987 to 2013 | 51 | 100% | no limit | 62.8 | 333 | 20 mg/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Radium (226 + 228) (4), Radon (1).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are arsenic (29% of 86 samples), nitrate (4% of 102 samples), and e. coli (<1% of 1,521 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.
Chloride, Manganese, and Iron 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 Harvey County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)143 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel1 hazardous waste site on record locally.
- Arsenic29% of 86 local samples were above the limit.
- Nitrate4% of 102 local samples were above the limit.
- E. coli<1% of 1,521 local samples were above the limit.
- RadonMedian local reading is 50 pCi/L.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 99% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 99% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Harvey County
KDHE records 143 leaking underground storage tank sites and 1 hazardous waste site in Harvey County, among 200 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.
- 143
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 1
- hazardous waste siteSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 41
- other remediation projects
- 15
- other solid waste facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- E. coli
- Shock chlorination and fix the well cap or casing; UV disinfection whole-house; Chlorination system
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Get your Harvey 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 Harvey County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Harvey County?
Arsenic was detected in 93% of 86 public well samples in Harvey County, and 29% 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 Harvey County?
The median radon level across 1 public samples in Harvey County was 50 pCi/L, with a high of 50 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Harvey 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: 3,072 samples in Harvey 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.
- Kansas Geological Survey groundwater quality samples: 363 samples in Harvey County. Groundwater quality samples from the Kansas Geological Survey and Groundwater Management District 2, joined to WWC5 well records. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- KDHE regulated sites: 200 regulated sites located in Harvey 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.