Is Tap Water Safe to Drink in Wichita?
Yes, tap water in Wichita is safe to drink. The city treats a blend of Cheney Reservoir water and Equus Beds aquifer groundwater at its new Northwest Water Facility, and the supply meets all EPA standards.
Water Source
The City of Wichita blends surface water from Cheney Reservoir (roughly 60–70% of supply) with groundwater from the Equus Beds aquifer northwest of the city, treated at the Northwest Water Facility that opened in 2024 to replace a plant dating to 1940.
EPA Compliance Status
Meets all federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards. The new billion-dollar treatment facility substantially modernized a system whose aging plant had been a long-standing reliability concern.
Notable Contaminants & Context
- •Seasonal algal blooms in Cheney Reservoir cause geosmin taste-and-odor episodes — earthy flavor, not a health risk
- •Atrazine and nitrates from farm runoff are monitored in both sources and stay within limits
- •The Equus Beds aquifer faces a slow-moving saltwater plume from historic Burrton oilfield brine; Wichita's aquifer storage and recovery project helps hold it back
- •Disinfection byproducts are monitored and compliant
Water Quality Data
Key contaminants detected vs. regulatory limits. All values from the most recent published report — Source: City of Wichita Water Utilities 2024 CCR.
| Contaminant | Detected | Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine (total) | 1.5 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Fluoride | 0.7 mg/L | 4.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 2.4 µg/L | 15.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| Nitrate (as N) | 2.2 mg/L | 10.0 mg/L | ✓ |
| TTHM (Total Trihalomethanes) | 30.4 µg/L | 80.0 µg/L | ✓ |
| HAA5 (Haloacetic Acids) | 20.8 µg/L | 60.0 µg/L | ✓ |
✓ = below limit ⚠ = above health goal ✗ = exceeds guideline
How It Compares
Wichita's 2024 plant leapfrogged it from one of the older major treatment works in the region to one of the newest, and its reservoir-plus-aquifer setup gives better drought insurance than single-source Plains systems.
Tips
- •Earthy summer taste is geosmin from reservoir algae — harmless, and carbon filters remove it
- •The city's annual report covers both Cheney and Equus Beds results
- •No safety filter is needed; softeners are a comfort choice
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
The safety rating and guidance on this page draw on the following sources. See our full methodology.
- •US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulations
- •EWG Tap Water Database
- •The utility's most recent Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)
- •WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality