COUNTY REPORT KS

Ness County, Kansas

7 ZIP codes · Avg score 60/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Ness County's water quality grade reflects a middle-ground assessment — its 7 ZIP codes range from fully compliant to violation-flagged.

How Ness County Compares

Ness County60/100
Kansas avg64/100
National avg68/100

How Ness County Compares

C
County Grade
60/100
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Ness County scores 4 points below the Kansas state average (64/100) and 8 points below the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
60
Avg Safety Score
7
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 67516 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 67518 (40/100)
$70K
Median Home Value
$1,457
Avg Remediation (207% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Ness 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: 14.3 (asthma 9.8%, diabetes 13.2%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $520, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.451% avg pipe failure probability, 100% of ZIPs at high risk

88.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.2% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.2% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1957
Median Build Year
88.1%
Pre-1978 Housing
45%
Pipe Failure Probability
100%
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: $520

Energy Code Gap $270/yr
Water / Lead $221/yr
Flood $29/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

1,613 housing units in Ness County

Pre-1940 27%
1940–1959 27%
1960–1979 33%
1980–1999 10%
2000+ 4%

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 Ness County

$70K
Median Home Value
$1,457
Est. Remediation Cost
2.1%
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 Ness County residents

Asthma 9.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.2% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.2% (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 Ness County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Arnold Waterworks Inc. 40 9
2 City of Bazine, 279 5
3 City of Ransom, 253 5
4 Trego Company Rwd 1 70 5
5 UTICA, CITY OF 101 2

7 total water systems serve Ness County.

All ZIP Codes in Ness County

7 ZIP codes tracked in Ness County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 67516 Bazine 66 C 5 $76K
2 67560 Ness City 66 C 0 $107K
3 67584 Utica 65 C 2 $34K
4 67572 Ransom 62 C 5 $65K
5 67515 Arnold 60 C 9 $65K
6 67521 Brownell 60 C 1 $78K
7 67518 Beeler 40 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Ness County

Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.

Overview

Ness County in Kansas covers 7 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (60/100).

5 of 7 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Kansas water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Ness County?
Ness County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Ness County?
Ness County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 7 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Ness County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Ness County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $520 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Ness County?
The median home build year in Ness County is 1957. 88.1% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Ness County compare to Kansas?
Ness County has an average water safety score of 60/100, which is below the Kansas state average of 64/100.

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