Liberal, KS: 12 Violations — 77/100 (2026)
2 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Liberal tap water earns a high safety grade — above-average compliance with KS and federal standards.
How Liberal Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Liberal Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0023 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.72 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Liberal
Water delivery in Liberal, KS is handled by 2 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 2 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Liberal, Kansas, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 20,754 people.
2 of 2 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Liberal: B (77/100)
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
Liberal water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0023 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 3 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67901 | B | 6 | 0 | City of Liberal, |
| 67905 | B | 6 | 0 | City of Liberal, |
All ZIP Codes in Liberal
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 Liberal
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 Liberal
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Liberal: Remediation Cost in Perspective
At current valuations, Liberal sits in the low remediation-share tier — the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Liberal are relatively low compared to home values. The $400–$1,700 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 14% below the Kansas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Liberal
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.
Lead risk in Liberal appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Liberal
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Liberal, that record documents 38 claims and 50% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Liberal has a moderate flood history with 38 FEMA claims averaging $2,554 per payout. 50% 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>$1,000</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Liberal, KS