Wakarusa, KS: 10 Health Violations - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Wakarusa: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (10 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Across Wakarusa, EPA compliance data for KS sits at a moderate level - not alarming, but not uniformly clean across all service areas either.
How Wakarusa Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Wakarusa Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 30 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0028 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 53% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.78 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Wakarusa
Structurally, Wakarusa, KS's water supply is divided. Federal data identifies 5 water systems in the area, with 3 providers serving the bulk of residential connections. These utilities operate independently, meaning rate-setting authority and EPA compliance accountability are distributed rather than centralized.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Wakarusa, Kansas (population ~1,182), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 139,416 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. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Wakarusa: 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
Wakarusa water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0028 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
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 | 24 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66546 | C | 30 | 10 | Douglas Company Rwd 3 |
All ZIP Codes in Wakarusa
- 66546 [C] - 30 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.
CDC Health Data for Wakarusa
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 Wakarusa
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Wakarusa's Housing Stock?
With 53% 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
Because the majority of Wakarusa's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1987 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Wakarusa 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.
Wakarusa: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The equity-to-remediation ratio in Wakarusa is moderate - worth planning for but within reach for most property owners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Wakarusa. The estimated $1,500–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 51% above the Kansas average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Wakarusa
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.
Routinely in Wakarusa, where 53% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Wakarusa
Historical NFIP data for Wakarusa contains 16 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $27,010. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$2,700</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 Wakarusa
- 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 Wakarusa's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 53% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Wakarusa, KS