COUNTY REPORT KS

Mitchell County, Kansas

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 52/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03

Water monitoring data from Mitchell County's 6 ZIP codes tells a below-average story — health violations are present and system-level detail is worth checking.

How Mitchell County Compares

Mitchell County52/100
Kansas avg64/100
National avg68/100

How Mitchell County Compares

D
County Grade
52/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems

Mitchell County scores 12 points below the Kansas state average (64/100) and 16 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

D
County Grade
52
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 67452 (68/100)
Lowest ZIP: 67478 (37/100)
$106K
Median Home Value
$2,500
Avg Remediation (235% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Mitchell County, Kansas

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14.4 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 12.8%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $787, driven primarily by water_lead

Infrastructure: 0.535% avg pipe failure probability, 67% of ZIPs at high risk

87.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Mitchell County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
3 (3 health)
2022
11 (11 health)
2023
5 (5 health)
2024
11 (11 health)
2025
19 (19 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 19 violations. Past 5 years: 49 total (49 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.8% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1953
Median Build Year
87.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
54%
Pipe Failure Probability
67%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $787

Water / Lead $317/yr
Energy Code Gap $270/yr
Flood $200/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

3,189 housing units in Mitchell County

Pre-1940 36%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 22%
1980–1999 11%
2000+ 13%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Mitchell County

$106K
Median Home Value
$2,500
Est. Remediation Cost
2.3%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value moderate burden

Water safety remediation is a moderate expense relative to home values. Most homeowners can address issues through staged improvements over time.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Mitchell County residents

Asthma 10.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.8% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Mitchell County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Mitchell Company Rwd 2 873 88
2 Mitchell Company Rwd 1 345 87
3 City of Beloit, 3,407 55
4 Mitchell Company Rwd 3 2,048 55
5 City of Glen Elder, 359 32

9 total water systems serve Mitchell County.

All ZIP Codes in Mitchell County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Mitchell County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 67452 Hunter 68 C 1 $105K
2 67485 Tipton 66 C 0 $122K
3 67430 Cawker City 54 D 1 $90K
4 67446 Glen Elder 45 D 32 (23 health) $217K
5 67420 Beloit 40 D 55 (45 health) $107K
6 67478 Simpson 37 F 11 (10 health) $26K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Mitchell County

Designed to find the guide that fits the county, not the other way around — the system reads EPA detections, FEMA hazard layers, and CDC lead-exposure markers, then outputs the categories that resolve those specific risks for households here, with NSF-certified products surfaced when the matching contaminant appears in the local monitoring data.

Overview

Mitchell County in Kansas covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (52/100).

5 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 78 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Kansas water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Mitchell County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

Test your tap water

Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.

2

Consider a certified water filter

NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher

3

Contact your water utility

Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.

4

Check for lead in your home

87.8% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Mitchell County?
Mitchell County receives a grade of D. 3 of 6 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Mitchell County?
Mitchell County is served by 9 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Mitchell County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Mitchell County is water_lead. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $787 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Mitchell County?
The median home build year in Mitchell County is 1953. 87.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Mitchell County compare to Kansas?
Mitchell County has an average water safety score of 52/100, which is below the Kansas state average of 64/100.

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