Shawnee, KS: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 67/100
6 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Shawnee: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Public water data for Shawnee, KS reveals a split picture - tap water quality varies meaningfully by service area and the city's grade reflects that variability.
How Shawnee Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Shawnee, KS
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Shawnee score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Shawnee Water
- Average lead level: 0.0065 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 43% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,817 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.83.
Who Supplies Your Water in Shawnee
Federal drinking water records identify 1 system operating in Shawnee, KS. One of those systems serves the overwhelming majority of residential addresses, concentrating infrastructure management, rate authority, and EPA compliance reporting within a single organization.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Shawnee, Kansas (population ~74,437), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 490,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 6 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Shawnee: C (67/100)
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
Shawnee 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 of 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 6 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.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66203 | C | Water District 1 of Johnson Company | 490,000 |
| 66216 | C | Water District 1 of Johnson Company | 490,000 |
| 66217 | C | Water District 1 of Johnson Company | 490,000 |
| 66218 | C | Water District 1 of Johnson Company | 490,000 |
| 66226 | C | Water District 1 of Johnson Company | 490,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Shawnee
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.
Health Outcomes in Shawnee
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Shawnee
With 43% 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
The story of Shawnee's housing stock is one of layered development - neighborhoods built in different decades, each carrying the plumbing standards of their era. The median build year of 1989 reflects that layered character. Before 1986, lead solder was standard in copper plumbing; before 1970, lead pipes were commonly used for service lines. A substantial portion of the pre-1986 homes visible in the distribution above still carry the plumbing materials of those earlier standards - creating a risk environment that the city-wide aggregate water data doesn't fully capture.
Most homes in Shawnee 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Shawnee Homeowners
What does remediation cost in financial context for Shawnee homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Shawnee are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,850–$3,900 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 155% above the Kansas average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Shawnee
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 43% pre-rule share in Shawnee keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Shawnee
Historical NFIP data for Shawnee contains 110 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $25,551. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% 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>$2,817</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 Shawnee
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 43% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Shawnee, KS