Kansas
Kansas sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Ogallala/High Plains aquifer, Kansas River, and Arkansas River. With roughly 2.94 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 7% of its treated wastewater.
Kansaswater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Kansas
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| TTHM | 88 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 70 |
| Groundwater Rule | 57 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 52 |
| Nitrate | 43 |
| CARBON, TOTAL | 17 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Western Kansas is on the front line of Ogallala Aquifer depletion, with some areas already pumped to exhaustion.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Kansas currently tracks around moderate to severe conditions. Kansas has 856 community water systems serving about 3 million people; EPA records show 290 of them (33.9%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Kansas in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 127 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 4.0 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 70.7%
- Irrigation share
- 66.7%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~7%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Ogallala/High Plains aquifer
- ≈ Kansas River
- ≈ Arkansas River
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Kansas?
Kansas has 856 community water systems serving about 3 million people. EPA records show 290 of them (33.9%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 2 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Kansas's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve TTHM, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Groundwater Rule.
How much water does Kansas use per person?
Public water systems in Kansas withdraw about 127 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 70.7% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Kansas?
As of 2026-06-09, 46.5% of Kansas is in drought (D1+) and 22.2% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Kansas
9 trackedWichita
Wichita, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Overland Park
Overland Park, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Kansas City
Kansas City, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Olathe
Olathe, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Topeka
Topeka, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lawrence
Lawrence, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Shawnee
Shawnee, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Manhattan
Manhattan, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lenexa
Lenexa, KS water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Kansas
Groundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore