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Great Bend, KS Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Great Bend, KS — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Great Bend's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Great Bend, City Of PWSID: KS2000911 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 10 sampling points

Lead is 3.50 ppb, 23% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 10 sampling points, running as high as 4.4 times the limit.

C

Great Bend earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 3.50 ppb — 23% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 10 sampling points
3 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Great Bend's lead level vs. all Kansas community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 3.50 ppb — 23% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 26% of Kansas utilities
Population Served
14733
~6376 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
3 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
23% of EPA action level
3.50 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 3.50 ppb, 23% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Nitrate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2018 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

3 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Great Bend, City Of
PWSID KS2000911
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 14,733
Service connections 6,376
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Great Bend tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 10 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 3.50 ppb, 23% of the action level.
Does Great Bend water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 10 sampling points, running as high as 4.4 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Great Bend? ▼
Great Bend, City Of (PWSID KS2000911). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2021-10-05. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Great Bend Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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