Well water in Sedgwick County, Kansas
In Sedgwick County, 7% of 60 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for uranium (30 ug/L), based on public data from USGS Water Quality Portal and Kansas Geological Survey groundwater quality samples.
482 individual samples from 112 wells, 1945 to 2021. 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 Sedgwick 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 1958 to 2016 | 23 | 87% | 17% | 1.15 | 129 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 2000 to 2013 | 60 | 92% | 7% | 2.77 | 75.6 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1983 to 2016 | 454 | 13% | <1% | 0 | 20 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| E. coli 2002 to 2021 | 482 | <1% | <1% | 0 | 1 | 0 MPN/100mL EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 2000 to 2016 | 13 | 77% | 0% | 3.3 | 7 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1990 to 2016 | 12 | 25% | 0% | 0 | 0.01 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Manganese 1959 to 2014 | 15 | 80% | no limit | 120 | 676 | 300 ug/L health guideline | |
| Chloride 1949 to 2002 | 12 | 100% | no limit | 46.2 | 870 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Sodium 1961 to 2007 | 10 | 100% | no limit | 106 | 316 | 20 mg/L health guideline |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Fluoride (9), Iron (5).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (17% of 23 samples), uranium (7% of 60 samples), and lead (<1% of 454 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, Chloride, 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 Sedgwick County
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)1,492 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
- Metals panel4 hazardous waste sites on record locally.
- Nitrate17% of 23 local samples were above the limit.
- Uranium7% of 60 local samples were above the limit.
- Lead<1% of 454 local samples were above the limit.
- E. coli<1% of 482 local samples were above the limit.
- FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
- ManganeseDetected in 80% of local samples.
Contamination sources on record in Sedgwick County
KDHE records 1,492 leaking underground storage tank sites and 4 hazardous waste sites in Sedgwick County, among 2,035 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.
- 1,492
- leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
- 4
- hazardous waste sitesSolvents, degreasers and metals from industrial sites can travel far in fractured bedrock.
- 481
- other remediation projects
- 58
- other solid waste facilities
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- Uranium
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Whole-house anion exchange
- Lead
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Certified lead-removal carbon filter; Neutralizing filter to raise pH and stop leaching
- 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
Get your Sedgwick 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 Sedgwick County.
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Sedgwick County?
Arsenic was detected in 77% of 13 public well samples in Sedgwick 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 often should I test a private well in Sedgwick 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: 1,088 samples in Sedgwick 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: 7 samples in Sedgwick 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: 2,035 regulated sites located in Sedgwick 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.