Rush County, Kansas
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 49/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Rush County's 8 monitored ZIP codes, water quality data indicates below-average safety — independent testing is a reasonable precaution.
How Rush County Compares
How Rush County Compares
Rush County scores 15 points below the Kansas state average (64/100) and 19 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Rush County, Kansas
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.2 (asthma 10.1%, diabetes 13.9%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $745, driven primarily by water_lead
Infrastructure: 0.527% avg pipe failure probability, 88% of ZIPs at high risk
94% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2023–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Rush County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 18 total (18 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $745
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
1,734 housing units in Rush County
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 Rush County
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 Rush County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Rush County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Rush Center, | 144 | 21 |
| 2 | City of Lacrosse, | 1,232 | 11 |
| 3 | City of Liebenthal, | 92 | 11 |
| 4 | City of Alexander, | 49 | 6 |
| 5 | City of Bison, | 178 | 4 |
6 total water systems serve Rush County.
All ZIP Codes in Rush County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Rush County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 67565 | Otis | 66 | C | 0 | $64K |
| 2 | 67513 | Alexander | 62 | C | 6 | — |
| 3 | 67553 | Liebenthal | 59 | C | 11 | $70K |
| 4 | 67520 | Bison | 53 | D | 4 | $54K |
| 5 | 67575 | Rush Center | 45 | D | 10 (9 health) | $89K |
| 6 | 67556 | Mc Cracken | 40 | D | 0 | $45K |
| 7 | 67559 | Nekoma | 40 | D | 0 | $261K |
| 8 | 67548 | La Crosse | 28 | F | 11 (9 health) | $86K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Rush 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.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 94% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rush County, Kansas
Overview
Rush County in Kansas covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (49/100).
5 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 18 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Kansas water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.
What You Can Do
Rush County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
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.
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
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.
Check for lead in your home
94% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.