Topeka, KS: 15 Health Violations - Home Safety 79/100
31 ZIP codes · 11 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Topeka: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (15 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Topeka's tap water quality puts it in KS's upper tier - health-based violations are rare and the compliance record is consistently above average.
How Topeka Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Topeka, KS
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Topeka.
Topeka Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 40 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0024 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,929 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.78 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Topeka
Water service in Topeka, KS is split across 3 utilities out of 11 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 31 ZIP codes in Topeka, Kansas, covering 11 community water systems serving approximately 163,637 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 17 of 31 ZIP codes.
17 of 17 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 15 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Topeka: B (79/100)
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
Topeka water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0024 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 17 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 31 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 | 62 | 7 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 38 | 17 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 13 | 6 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 7 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66610 | B | 19 | 10 | City of Topeka, |
| 66614 | B | 19 | 10 | City of Topeka, |
| 66615 | B | 19 | 10 | City of Topeka, |
| 66609 | B | 16 | 5 | City of Topeka, |
| 66619 | B | 12 | 5 | City of Topeka, |
| 66604 | B | 10 | 5 | City of Topeka, |
| 66605 | B | 6 | 0 | City of Topeka, |
| 66607 | B | 6 | 0 | City of Topeka, |
| 66616 | B | 6 | 0 | City of Topeka, |
| 66618 | B | 5 | 0 | Shawnee Company Rwd 4c |
All ZIP Codes in Topeka
- 66601
- 66603 [B] - 2 violations
- 66604 [B] - 10 violations ⚠
- 66605 [B] - 6 violations
- 66606 [B] - 2 violations
- 66607 [B] - 6 violations
- 66608 [B] - 2 violations
- 66609 [B] - 16 violations ⚠
- 66610 [B] - 19 violations ⚠
- 66611 [B] - 2 violations
- 66612 [B] - 2 violations
- 66614 [B] - 19 violations ⚠
- 66615 [B] - 19 violations ⚠
- 66616 [B] - 6 violations
- 66617 [B] - 4 violations
- 66618 [B] - 5 violations
- 66619 [B] - 12 violations ⚠
- 66620
- 66621 [B] - 2 violations
- 66622
- 66624
- 66625
- 66626
- 66628
- 66629
- 66636
- 66647
- 66667
- 66675
- 66683
- 66699
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.
CDC Health Data for Topeka
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 Topeka
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Topeka: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Homeowners in Topeka are working with a moderate equity share for documented remediation - the commitment deserves a line in the household budget, not dismissal.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Topeka. The estimated $900–$3,703 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 17% below the Kansas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Topeka
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 Topeka 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Topeka
Historical NFIP data for Topeka contains 188 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,027. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 60% 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>$1,929</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Topeka, KS