Health Concerns Found SCHOOL DISTRICT

Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 (KS): 59 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area

15 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · 8,346 people served

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for water systems mapped to ZIP codes in Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109: 6 violations at water systems mapped to the district's ZIP codes, not marked resolved in EPA records.

Data: ZipCheckup Home Safety Score model 4.0.0, EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5, EPA radon zones, EPA AirData, NCES

N/A
Avg Safety Score (0 ZIP)
15
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems
76
Violations (since 2021) (4 ZIP)
0.0033 mg/L
Highest lead 90th percentile (district water systems)
Zone 1
Radon Risk (12 ZIP)

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Home Safety and Water Evidence Overview

The Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 in Kansas spans 15 ZIP codes. This materialization has canonical Home Safety Scores for 0 ZIP records and typed EPA water violation counts for 4 ZIP records. Missing evidence is not treated as zero.

The deduplicated primary-system served-population sum is 8,346 across 3 water systems. This is not the district resident population.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results 0.0025 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0033 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP records exceeding EPA action level 0 of 4 with known status -

EPA Violation History

59 health-based violations recorded across 4 ZIP records with known health counts since 2021. 4 of 4 ZIP records with known total counts have at least one violation. 6 violations remain unresolved.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Nitrate Inorganic 38 Yes 3
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 21 Yes 1
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Treatment Technique 5 No 4
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 4 No 1
Public Notice Rule Reporting 3 No 1
Groundwater Rule Treatment Technique 3 No 3
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 1 No 1
Chlorine Disinfectant 1 No 1

Radon Risk

12 of 12 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Water Facts and Home Safety Score by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Home Safety Score EPA Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
66901 Concordia N/A 31 21 0 mg/L No
66935 Belleville N/A 21 18 0.0033 mg/L No
66930 Agenda N/A 12 10 0.0033 mg/L No
66940 Cuba N/A 12 10 0.0033 mg/L No
66938 Clyde N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66939 Courtland N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66944 Haddam N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66959 Munden N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66960 Narka N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66964 Republic N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66966 Scandia N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
66970 Webber N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
68325 Byron N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
68327 Chester N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
68943 Hardy N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Ask your water utility whether running cold water for 2 minutes is enough to flush your plumbing before drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 schools?

EPA system-level records associated with Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 show 59 health-based violations across 4 ZIP records with known health counts. These records do not measure individual school taps. Parents should request current building-level testing results from the school district.

Does Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Home → School Districts → Kansas → Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 (KS): 59 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/republic-county-hillcrest-rural-schools-unified-school-district-109-ks/
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  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Republic County-Hillcrest Rural Schools Unified School District 109 (KS): 59 Health-Based Violations in Water Systems Mapped to the District Area}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/republic-county-hillcrest-rural-schools-unified-school-district-109-ks/}
}
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