We read 18 results from City of Lawrence’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 4 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 95,256 people · Water system ID KS2004503 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atrazinehighest measured · range ND to 0.26 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.26 ppb | 0.15 ppb | 3 ppb | Above the health goal1.7x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range ND to 1 · sampled 2020 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 1 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.3 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal16x the health goal |
| Total coliform bacteriahighest month · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.88 % positive | 0 % positive | 5 % positive | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.02 to 0.11 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.11 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chloraminehighest running annual average · range 2.51 to 3.9 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 3.49 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chloridehighest measured · range 23 to 92 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 92 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Chromium (total)highest measured · range ND to 2.8 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 2.8 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · sampled 2023 · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.17 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 12.5 to 31.9 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 29 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 12.8 to 79.9 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 3 | 61.6 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest measured · range ND to 0.59 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.59 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 0.78 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.78 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 4.2 · sampled 2023 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 4.2 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Seleniumhighest measured · range ND to 1.1 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.1 ppb | 30 ppb | 50 ppb | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range 24 to 110 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 110 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Total dissolved solidshighest measured · range 220 to 380 · Treated water · 2025 report, page 4 | 380 ppm | — | 500 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · range 0.03 to 0.87 · Treatment plants · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.87 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in City of Lawrence’s water between Jan 2023 and Oct 2023. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFHxS4.2 pptFound in 4 of 8 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium27.3 ppbFound in 4 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Industrial chemicals and pesticides
Found: Atrazine
What removes it: Carbon block or RO.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
Bacteria and viruses
Found: Total coliform bacteria
What removes it: UV purification (and tell your utility).
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