Kansas City, KS: 15 Violations — 62/100 (2026)
15 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-04
Compared to top-scoring cities in KS, Kansas City lands in the middle tier — some water systems meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and performance can vary significantly across service areas.
How Kansas City Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
Water Quality Map: Kansas City, KS
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Kansas City.
Kansas City Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 15 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0065 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 80% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,320 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.84 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Kansas City
Federal drinking water records identify 4 systems in Kansas City, KS. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 15 ZIP codes in Kansas City, Kansas (population ~159,505), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 645,462 people region-wide.
15 of 15 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Kansas City: C (62/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Kansas City water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0065 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 15 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 15 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66101 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66102 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66103 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66104 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66105 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66106 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66109 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66110 | C | 1 | 0 | Water District 1 of Johnson Company |
| 66111 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
| 66112 | C | 1 | 0 | Kansas City Board of Public Utilities |
All ZIP Codes in Kansas City
- 66101 [C] — 1 violation
- 66102 [C] — 1 violation
- 66103 [C] — 1 violation
- 66104 [C] — 1 violation
- 66105 [C] — 1 violation
- 66106 [C] — 1 violation
- 66109 [C] — 1 violation
- 66110 [C] — 1 violation
- 66111 [C] — 1 violation
- 66112 [C] — 1 violation
- 66115 [C] — 1 violation
- 66117 [C] — 1 violation
- 66118 [C] — 1 violation
- 66119 [C] — 1 violation
- 66160 [C] — 1 violation
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Kansas City
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Kansas City
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Kansas City's Housing Stock?
With 80% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Reading the housing age data for Kansas City — median build year 1962 — the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints — a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.
Over half of homes in Kansas City were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Kansas City: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Given current Kansas City property values, the remediation share falls in the moderate tier — an indicator that the household financial perspective here calls for advance planning rather than dismissal, with most homeowners positioned to address documented issues through deliberate budgeting rather than needing to treat remediation as a significant equity event or financial emergency.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Kansas City. The estimated $1,553–$3,160 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 21% below the Kansas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Kansas City
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 80% of the Kansas City inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Kansas City
Multiple flood events have been recorded for Kansas City through the NFIP — 364 claims in total, with 73% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated zones — pointing to a flood exposure profile that merits inclusion in a water quality assessment without reaching high-severity planning territory.
Kansas City has a moderate flood history with 364 FEMA claims averaging $34,346 per payout. 73% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,320</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Kansas City
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Kansas City's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 80% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kansas City, KS