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Baxter Springs, KS Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Baxter Springs, City Of PWSID: KS2002109 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 3.20 ppb, 21% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

B

Baxter Springs earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: 3.20 ppb — 21% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
15 violations since 2015, 9 health-based
No violations currently open
Baxter Springs's lead level vs. all Kansas community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 3.20 ppb — 21% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 32% of Kansas utilities
Population Served
3787
~1977 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
15 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
21% of EPA action level
3.20 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 3.20 ppb, 21% 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 MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.083 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2025 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.088 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2025 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.09 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
TTHM MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.087 MG/L 0.080 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL EXCEEDANCE 16 PCI/L 15 pCi/L 2022 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL EXCEEDANCE 18 PCI/L 15 pCi/L 2021 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL EXCEEDANCE 21 PCI/L 15 pCi/L 2021 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL EXCEEDANCE 20 PCI/L 15 pCi/L 2020 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2020 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL EXCEEDANCE 20 PCI/L 15 pCi/L 2020 Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2020 Resolved
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 5 pCi/L 2020–2022 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MONITORING AND REPORTING — 15 pCi/L 2018 Resolved
Combined Uranium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 30 ug/L 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

15 violations are on record since 2015, of which 9 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Baxter Springs, City Of
PWSID KS2002109
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 3,787
Service connections 1,977
Systems serving this area 3
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baxter Springs tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 3.20 ppb, 21% of the action level.
Does Baxter Springs water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Baxter Springs? ▼
Baxter Springs, City Of (PWSID KS2002109), one of 3 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2026-03-09. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Baxter Springs Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
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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