Worst Infrastructure: Kansas — 2026 Rankings

Out of 737 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in Kansas, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	737
Highest risk	73%
Median risk	46%
Average risk	45%
State	Kansas

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	67744	Ludell	KS	73%	Very High	40/100
2	66963	Randall	KS	71%	Very High	33/100
3	66760	Opolis	KS	70%	Very High	53/100
4	67021	Byers	KS	70%	Very High	40/100
5	67066	Iuka	KS	70%	Very High	33/100
6	67476	Roxbury	KS	69%	Very High	66/100
7	66940	Cuba	KS	68%	Very High	57/100
8	66948	Jamestown	KS	68%	Very High	64/100
9	66949	Jewell	KS	68%	Very High	43/100
10	66961	Norway	KS	68%	Very High	40/100
11	67445	Glasco	KS	68%	Very High	68/100
12	67418	Barnard	KS	66%	Very High	39/100
13	67475	Ramona	KS	66%	Very High	40/100
14	67651	Natoma	KS	65%	Very High	56/100
15	67657	Palco	KS	65%	Very High	3/100
16	67669	Stockton	KS	65%	Very High	35/100
17	66956	Mankato	KS	64%	Very High	64/100
18	67159	Zenda	KS	64%	Very High	66/100
19	67361	Sedan	KS	64%	Very High	66/100
20	67455	Lincoln	KS	64%	Very High	70/100
21	67468	Morganville	KS	64%	Very High	70/100
22	67478	Simpson	KS	64%	Very High	37/100
23	67581	Sylvia	KS	64%	Very High	58/100
24	67644	Kirwin	KS	64%	Very High	66/100
25	66604	Topeka	KS	63%	Very High	72/100
26	66616	Topeka	KS	63%	Very High	72/100
27	66901	Concordia	KS	63%	Very High	62/100
28	66935	Belleville	KS	63%	Very High	33/100
29	66937	Clifton	KS	63%	Very High	66/100
30	66966	Scandia	KS	63%	Very High	70/100
31	67155	Wilmore	KS	63%	Very High	53/100
32	67423	Beverly	KS	63%	Very High	28/100
33	67427	Bushton	KS	63%	Very High	50/100
34	67481	Sylvan Grove	KS	63%	Very High	66/100
35	67565	Otis	KS	63%	Very High	66/100
36	67747	Monument	KS	63%	Very High	40/100
37	66603	Topeka	KS	62%	Very High	69/100
38	66612	Topeka	KS	62%	Very High	72/100
39	66946	Hollenberg	KS	62%	Very High	40/100
40	67548	La Crosse	KS	62%	Very High	28/100
41	66783	Yates Center	KS	61%	Very High	50/100
42	66853	Hamilton	KS	61%	Very High	68/100
43	66930	Agenda	KS	61%	Very High	62/100
44	66938	Clyde	KS	61%	Very High	66/100
45	67446	Glen Elder	KS	61%	Very High	45/100
46	67485	Tipton	KS	61%	Very High	66/100
47	67585	Yoder	KS	61%	Very High	50/100
48	67842	Ford	KS	61%	Very High	45/100
49	66017	Denton	KS	60%	High	70/100
50	66606	Topeka	KS	60%	High	67/100
51	67451	Hope	KS	60%	High	29/100
52	67663	Plainville	KS	60%	High	33/100
53	66522	Oneida	KS	59%	High	53/100
54	66544	Vermillion	KS	59%	High	64/100
55	66952	Lebanon	KS	59%	High	65/100
56	66960	Narka	KS	59%	High	65/100
57	67059	Haviland	KS	59%	High	64/100
58	67420	Beloit	KS	59%	High	40/100
59	67575	Rush Center	KS	59%	High	45/100
60	67621	Agra	KS	59%	High	66/100
61	67674	Walker	KS	59%	High	40/100
62	66742	Gas	KS	58%	High	83/100
63	66870	Virgil	KS	58%	High	73/100
64	67450	Holyrood	KS	58%	High	56/100
65	67452	Hunter	KS	58%	High	68/100
66	67545	Hudson	KS	58%	High	53/100
67	67628	Cedar	KS	58%	High	40/100
68	67863	Marienthal	KS	58%	High	40/100
69	66205	Mission	KS	57%	High	40/100
70	66451	Lyndon	KS	57%	High	60/100
71	66515	Morrill	KS	57%	High	55/100
72	66845	Cottonwood Falls	KS	57%	High	81/100
73	67022	Caldwell	KS	57%	High	83/100
74	67211	Wichita	KS	57%	High	78/100
75	67623	Alton	KS	57%	High	64/100
76	67758	Sharon Springs	KS	57%	High	55/100
77	67879	Tribune	KS	57%	High	22/100
78	66607	Topeka	KS	56%	High	72/100
79	66608	Topeka	KS	56%	High	72/100
80	66611	Topeka	KS	56%	High	67/100
81	66850	Elmdale	KS	56%	High	80/100
82	67124	Pratt	KS	56%	High	45/100
83	67208	Wichita	KS	56%	High	78/100
84	67357	Parsons	KS	56%	High	62/100
85	67430	Cawker City	KS	56%	High	54/100
86	67576	Saint John	KS	56%	High	53/100
87	67629	Clayton	KS	56%	High	59/100
88	67638	Gaylord	KS	56%	High	31/100
89	67660	Pfeifer	KS	56%	High	40/100
90	67664	Prairie View	KS	56%	High	66/100
91	67736	Gove	KS	56%	High	43/100
92	66035	Highland	KS	55%	High	57/100
93	66713	Baxter Springs	KS	55%	High	68/100
94	66840	Burns	KS	55%	High	61/100
95	66955	Mahaska	KS	55%	High	65/100
96	67111	Murdock	KS	55%	High	70/100
97	67134	Sawyer	KS	55%	High	66/100
98	67143	Sun City	KS	55%	High	53/100
99	67213	Wichita	KS	55%	High	78/100
100	67447	Green	KS	55%	High	64/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.