Water System Report KS

City of Gardner

EPA ID: KS2009106 · 23,942 people served · 4 ZIP codes

Water monitoring history at City of Gardner shows a clean slate — EPA tracking over the past five years turned up no violations, and 23,942 residents continue to receive fully compliant service.

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

B · 70
Avg Safety Score
23,942
People Served
4
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0031 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
0
Contaminants Flagged
$282K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$93,891
Median Household Income
42,239
Service Area Population
3%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
40%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Gardner serves a community with a median household income of $93,891 and an estimated 42,239 residents across its service area. Approximately 40% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Gardner's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Johnson County, Kansas rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

35 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
34 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 51% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 6 detections recorded.

Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Kansas

City of Emporia
24,009 people
C 11 violations
City of Derby
25,413 people
C 10 violations
City of Hays
21,040 people
D 9 violations
City of Dodge City
27,104 people
D 2 violations
City of Pittsburg,
20,738 people
C 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,050
PFAS Treatment $500
Total Estimated Cost $2,750

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,750 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Gardner, (EPA ID: KS2009106) is a community water system in Kansas that serves approximately 23,942 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 4 ZIP codes across 4 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (70/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

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

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
66030 0.0031 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

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: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Gardner (KS2009106) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Gardner water safe to drink?

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

How many people does City of Gardner serve?

City of Gardner serves approximately 23,942 people across 4 ZIP codes in Kansas.

Where does City of Gardner get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
2
Latest sample
12/5/2023
Highest analyte
PFPeA: 3.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFPeA 3.4 ppt

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:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
109
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

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: Did not report any required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2021-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 23,942
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 →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Gardner safe to drink?
City of Gardner earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Gardner 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 Gardner serve?
City of Gardner serves approximately 23,942 people with drinking water across 4 ZIP codes.
What is City of Gardner's water source?
City of Gardner draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Gardner's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0031 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Gardner's service area?
The City of Gardner service area has a median household income of $93,891. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Gardner get its water?
City of Gardner's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.
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