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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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City of Emporia

EWG's drinking water quality report shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided to the Environmental Working Group by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

Utility Details

  • Emporia, Kansas
  • Serves: 24,765
  • Data available: 2014-2020*
  • Source: Surface water
  • * 2020/2021 testing is for chemicals in EPA's Fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR-4) only.

Contaminants Detected

9

EXCEED
EWG HEALTH
GUIDELINES

26 Total Contaminants

  • Legal does not necessarily equal safe. Getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
  • Legal limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years.
  • The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place.

Legal ≠ Safe

EWG Health Guidelines fill the gap in outdated government standards.

The federal government’s legal limits are not health-protective. The EPA has not set a new tap water standard in almost 20 years, and some standards are more than 40 years old.

Contaminants Detected

Arsenic

Potential Effect: cancer142x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.567 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.004 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppb
DETAILS
X

Arsenic is a potent carcinogen and common contaminant in drinking water. Arsenic causes thousands of cases of cancer each year in the U.S. Click here to read more about arsenic.

Arsenic was found at 142 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.004 ppb or less

This Utility

0.567 ppb

Legal Limit

10 ppb

National Average

0.647 ppb

State Average

1.18 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.004 ppb for arsenic was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

agriculture icon

Agriculture

industry icon

Industry

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Atrazine

Potential Effect: harm to the developing fetus2.3x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.225 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.1 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT3 ppb
DETAILS
X

Atrazine is a herbicide commonly detected in drinking water that comes from cornfield and other agricultural runoff. It is a hormone disrupter that harms the male and female reproductive systems of people and wildlife.

Atrazine was found at 2.3 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

0.225 ppb

Legal Limit

3 ppb

National Average

0.0194 ppb

State Average

0.256 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for atrazine was defined by EWG based on epidemiological studies of human exposure to atrazine in drinking water.. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus, harm to the reproductive system and hormone disruption.

Pollution Sources

agriculture icon

Agriculture

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Bromate

Potential Effect: cancer44x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY4.41 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.1 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppb
DETAILS
X

Bromate is a carcinogenic disinfection byproduct formed when source waters containing bromide are treated with ozonation or sodium hypochlorite. Studies of laboratory animals show that bromate damages DNA and causes cancer in multiple organs. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

Bromate was found at 44 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

4.41 ppb

Legal Limit

10 ppb

National Average

0.693 ppb

State Average

2.83 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for bromate was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Chromium (hexavalent)

Potential Effect: cancer5.4x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.109 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.02 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Chromium (hexavalent)

more about
this contaminant

Chromium (hexavalent) is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates American drinking water. Chromium (hexavalent) in drinking water may be due to industrial pollution or natural occurrences in mineral deposits and groundwater. Read more about chromium (hexavalent).

Chromium (hexavalent) was found at 5.4 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.02 ppb or less

This Utility

0.109 ppb

National Average

0.484 ppb

State Average

0.836 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2013-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.02 ppb for chromium (hexavalent) was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

industry icon

Industry

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Dibromoacetic acid

Potential Effect: 3.5x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.139 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.04 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Dibromoacetic acid

more about
this contaminant

Dibromoacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

Dibromoacetic acid was found at 3.5 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.04 ppb or less

This Utility

0.139 ppb

National Average

1.1 ppb

State Average

2.6 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.04 ppb for dibromoacetic acid was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a on-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Dichloroacetic acid

Potential Effect: cancer11x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY2.24 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.2 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Dichloroacetic acid

more about
this contaminant

Dichloroacetic acid, one of the group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards, is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Haloacetic acids and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

Dichloroacetic acid was found at 11 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.2 ppb or less

This Utility

2.24 ppb

National Average

7.97 ppb

State Average

6.59 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.2 ppb for dichloroacetic acid was proposed in 2020 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk.a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)†

Potential Effect: cancer27x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY2.66 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.1 ppb
LEGAL LIMIT60 ppb
DETAILS
X

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

more about
this contaminant

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of five haloacetic acids regulated by federal standards includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid.

Haloacetic acids (HAA5) was found at 27 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.1 ppb or less

This Utility

2.66 ppb

Legal Limit

60 ppb

National Average

17.1 ppb

State Average

16.6 ppb
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for the group of five haloacetic acids, or HAA5, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level. This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Haloacetic acids (HAA9)†

Potential Effect: cancer50x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY2.99 ppb
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.06 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
DETAILS
X

Haloacetic acids (HAA9)

more about
this contaminant

Haloacetic acids are formed when disinfectants such as chlorine are added to tap water. The group of nine haloacetic acids includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid, which are regulated as a group by the federal government (HAA5); and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid, and tribromoacetic acid.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) was found at 50 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.06 ppb or less

This Utility

2.99 ppb

National Average

23.7 ppb

State Average

23 ppb
NO LEGAL LIMIT
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2021.
ppb = parts per billion

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for the group of nine haloacetic acids, or HAA9, was defined in a peer-reviewed scientific study by EWG and represents a one-in-a-million lifetime cancer risk level as . This health guideline protects against cancer.

Pollution Sources

water treatment icon

Treatment Byproducts

Filtering Options

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Nitrate

Potential Effect: cancer2.2x EWG'S HEALTH GUIDELINE
THIS UTILITY0.312 ppm
EWG HEALTH GUIDELINE0.14 ppm
LEGAL LIMIT10 ppm
DETAILS
X

Nitrate, a fertilizer chemical, frequently contaminates drinking water due to agricultural and urban runoff, and discharges from municipal wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks. Excessive nitrate in water can cause oxygen deprivation in infants and increase the risk of cancer. Click here to read more about nitrate.

Nitrate was found at 2.2 times above EWG's Health Guideline.

EWG Health Guideline

0.14 ppm or less

This Utility

0.312 ppm

Legal Limit

10 ppm

National Average

0.935 ppm

State Average

1.44 ppm
The state and national averages were calculated using the averages of the contaminant measurements for each utility in 2017-2019.
ppm = parts per million

Health Risks

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.14 ppm for nitrate was defined by EWG . This health guideline protects against cancer and harm to fetal growth and development.

Pollution Sources

agriculture icon

Agriculture

urban area icon

Runoff & Sprawl

naturally occuring icon

Naturally Occurring

Filtering Options

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

ion exchange icon

Ion Exchange

Includes chemicals detected in 2017-2019 for which annual utility averages exceeded an EWG-selected health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3) program in 2013 to 2015 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages exceeded a health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority; chemicals detected under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4) program in 2017 to 2020 (and subsequent testing when available), for which annual utility averages exceeded a health guideline established by a federal or state public health authority.

† HAA5 is a contaminant group that includes monochloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, monobromoacetic acid and dibromoacetic acid. HAA9 is a contaminant group that includes the chemicals in HAA5 and bromochloroacetic acid, bromodichloroacetic acid, chlorodibromoacetic acid and tribromoacetic acid. TTHM is a contaminant group that includes bromodichloromethane, bromoform, chloroform and dibromochloromethane.


Other Contaminants Tested


Chemicals tested for but not detected from 2014 to 2019:

1,1,1-Trichloroethane , 1,1,2-Trichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethane , 1,1-Dichloroethylene , 1,2,3-Trichloropropane , 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene , 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) , 1,2-Dichloroethane , 1,2-Dichloropropane , 1,3-Butadiene , 1,4-Dioxane , 1-butanol , 2-methoxyethanol , 2-propen-1-ol , Acetochlor , Alachlor (Lasso) , Aldrin , Alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane , alpha-Lindane , Antimony , Benzene , Beryllium , beta-BHC , Bromacil , Bromochloromethane , Bromoform , Bromomethane , Butachlor , Butylate , Butylated hydroxyanisole , Cadmium , Carbofuran , Carbon tetrachloride , Chlorate , Chlordane , Chlorodifluoromethane , Chloromethane , Chlorpyriphos , cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Cobalt , Cyanazine (Bladex) , Dacthal , delta-BHC , Desisopropylatrazine , Diazinon (Spectracide) , Dibromochloromethane , Dichlorobenzenes , Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) , Dieldrin , Dimethipin , Endosulfan I , Endosulfan II , Endosulfan sulfate , Endrin , Endrin aldehyde , Ethoprop , Ethylbenzene , Ethylene dibromide , Germanium , Heptachlor , Heptachlor epoxide , Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) , Hexachlorocyclopentadiene , Lindane , Mercury (inorganic) , Methoxychlor , Metolachlor , Metribuzin , Monochlorobenzene (chlorobenzene) , o-Dichlorobenzene , o-toluidine , Oxyflurofen , p-Dichlorobenzene , Para-para DDE , Para-para DDT , Para-para DDT , Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) , Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) , Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) , Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) , Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) , Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) , Permethrin , Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) , Profenofos , Prometon , Propachlor , Propazine , Quinoline , Radium, combined (-226 & -228) , Silver , Simazine , Styrene , Tebuconazole , Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) , Thallium , Toluene , Toxaphene , trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene , Tribufos , Trichloroethylene , Trifluralin , Vinyl chloride , Xylenes (total)

City of Emporia compliance with legally mandated federal standards:

  • From April 2019 to March 2021, City of Emporia complied with health-based drinking water standards.
  • 4 QUARTERS
    in violation of any federal drinking water standard from April 2019 to March 2021
  • Over the last 3 years this water utility has spent
    1 QUARTER
    in significant violation of federal drinking water standards

Information in this section on City of Emporia comes from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online database (ECHO).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS UTILITY

Water Filters That Can Reduce Contaminant Levels

ContaminantActivated Carbonactivated carbonReverse Osmosisreverse osmosisIon Exchangeion exchange
CONTAMINANTS ABOVE
HEALTH GUIDELINES
Arsenic
Atrazine
Bromate
Chromium (hexavalent)
Dibromoacetic acid
Dichloroacetic acid
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)
Nitrate
OTHER CONTAMINANTS
DETECTED
Aluminum
Barium
Bromide
Bromodichloromethane
Chloroform
Chromium (total)
Desethylatrazine
Fluoride
Manganese
Molybdenum
Monobromoacetic acid
Monochloroacetic acid
Selenium
Strontium
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Trichloroacetic acid
Vanadium

Take Action

Contact Your Local Official

One of the best ways to push for cleaner water is to hold accountable the elected officials who have a say in water quality – from city hall and the state legislature to Congress all the way to the Oval Office – by asking questions and demanding answers.

LEARN MORE

Filter Out Contaminants

Check out our recommendations for filters to protect your water against the detected contaminants.

EWG’S WATER FILTER GUIDE