Gardner, KS: 4 Violations - Home Safety 65/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gardner: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Gardner water quality is uneven - some service areas show clean compliance; others carry documented violations in KS EPA records.
How Gardner Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Gardner Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.011 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 23% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.83.
Gardner's Water Providers
Gardner, KS is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 5 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Gardner, Kansas (population ~25,964), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 665,154 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gardner: C (65/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Gardner water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0110 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 1008 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66030 | C | 4 | 0 | City of Gardner, |
All ZIP Codes in Gardner
- 66030 [C] - 4 violations
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Gardner Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Gardner's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Gardner Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Lead solder was federally prohibited in new plumbing in 1986. In Gardner, the median build year of 2009 puts a majority of homes in the lower-risk category for that specific contamination pathway - though the pre-1986 share shown above still carries real exposure potential at the individual household level.
Most homes in Gardner were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Gardner
The equity impact of remediation in Gardner sits at a moderate level - real enough to plan for, within reach for most.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Gardner. The estimated $2,300–$4,800 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 86% above the Kansas average.
Gardner: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Reading Gardner's aggregate samples next to its housing-age figures yields a quiet baseline. Lead rests under the federal action benchmark in citywide monitoring, and only 23% of homes were built before the federal ban on solder containing lead. Households with kids - the population for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - can confirm in-home conditions with a draw-test kit, with a certified lead-removal filter available through certified retail channels if results warrant it.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Gardner: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Gardner contains 9 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $26,982. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$3,500</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Gardner
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Lead and Copper Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Gardner's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Gardner, KS