Water System Report KS

City of Wathena

EPA ID: KS2004308 · 1,242 people served · 2 ZIP codes

Even as other utilities in the region logged violations, City of Wathena kept a clean EPA record — five years, no issues, 1,242 people served.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

1,242
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0
Contaminants Flagged
$112K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Wathena Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$76,075
Median Household Income
3,197
Service Area Population
33%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
56%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Wathena serves a community with a median household income of $76,075 and an estimated 3,197 residents across its service area. Approximately 56% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 33% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Wathena's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Low Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 0% of homes in Doniphan County, Kansas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

39 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
32 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 55% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Kansas

City of Pleasanton
1,238 people
0 violations
Cherokee Company Rwd 8
1,235 people
B 3 violations
City of Lacrosse
1,232 people
F 11 violations
Coffey Company Rwd 2e
1,254 people
0 violations
Marshall Company Rwd 3
1,228 people
C 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation
Flood Insurance $1,200
Radon Mitigation $400
Total Estimated Cost $1,600

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

System Overview

City of Wathena, (EPA ID: KS2004308) is a community water system in Kansas that serves approximately 1,242 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Need help with your water quality?

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

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by KS or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Wathena (KS2004308) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Wathena water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, City of Wathena has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does City of Wathena serve?

City of Wathena serves approximately 1,242 people across 2 ZIP codes in Kansas.

Where does City of Wathena get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

1
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
523
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported some but not all service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,242
Reported to Kansas

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use a water filter?
City of Wathena meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Wathena serve?
City of Wathena serves approximately 1,242 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is City of Wathena's water source?
City of Wathena draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of City of Wathena's service area?
The City of Wathena service area has a median household income of $76,075. EPA EJScreen data classifies 33% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Wathena get its water?
City of Wathena's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
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