Water Quality: Hays, KS
7 water systems • 22,261 people served
Multiple Health ViolationsWater Quality Summary
Hays is served by 7 public water systems with a combined service population of 22,261 people, and has 290 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 12 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Hays's violation count is 643% above the national average for Kansas. Contaminants associated with violations include Chlorine, Chlorine Dioxide, E. coli, Selenium.
Contaminants Found
Eye and nose irritation at high levels; long-term exposure above the MCL may cause liver and kidney damage.
Common source: Water treatment disinfectant added to kill harmful microorganisms
EPA limit: 4.0 mg/L (MRDL — Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level)
Can cause anemia in infants and young children; may cause nervous system effects at high levels.
Common source: Water treatment disinfectant used to control taste, odor, and microorganisms
EPA limit: 0.8 mg/L
Causes gastrointestinal illness; certain strains (e.g., O157:H7) can cause severe kidney failure and death.
Common source: Fecal contamination from humans or animals entering the water supply
EPA limit: Zero (no E. coli permitted in drinking water)
Hair loss, nail brittleness, and nervous system damage at elevated concentrations.
Common source: Natural geological deposits, mining discharges, oil refinery waste
EPA limit: 0.05 mg/L (50 ppb)
Water Systems Serving Hays
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAYS, CITY OF | KS2005111 | Groundwater | 21,040 | 7 |
| ELLIS CO RWD 6 | KS2005122 | Groundwater | 383 | 95 |
| ELLIS CO RWD 1C | KS2005124 | Groundwater | 340 | 28 |
| ELLIS CO RWD 3 | KS2005113 | Groundwater | 200 | 2 |
| BUFFALO HILLS PARK | KS2005110 | Groundwater | 135 | 5 |
| COUNTRY VIEW MOBILE HOME PARK | KS2005121 | Groundwater | 125 | 128 |
| HAYS SUBURBAN ESTATES | KS2005116 | Groundwater | 38 | 25 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in Kansas
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.