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Community Water System · PWS KS2002109

Baxter Springs, City Of

Baxter Springs, Kansas 66713-0577 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 3,852 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

3,852
People served
285
EPA violations
142
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 285 drinking-water violations at Baxter Springs, City Of, 50% of them health-based - above the Kansas per-system average.

285
Total EPA violations on record
50%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
3,852
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Baxter Springs, City Of

Baxter Springs, City Of is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 3,852 residents in Baxter Springs, Kansas (Cherokee County) through 1,977 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 285 total violations for this system , of which 142 (50%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 128 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is TTHM, recorded in 102 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Kansas, EPA tracks 957 public water systems serving 2,894,673 people, with 84,344 cumulative violations and 33,424 health-based violations on record. About 99% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 88.1 violations. Statewide, 89 of 103 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (86.4%).

Baxter Springs, City Of's 285 violations sit above the Kansas average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
3,852
Total Violations
285
Health-Based Violations
142
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,977
County
Cherokee
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
135
Monitoring Violations
128
Treatment Tech Violations
7

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
TTHM MCL 102 2025
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL 20 2022
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 10 2011
Lead and Copper Rule MR 10 1993
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL 9 1986
Surface Water Treatment Rule TT 7 2002
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 6 1989
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 6 1989
Benzene MR 6 1989
Vinyl chloride MR 6 1989
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 6 1989
Trichloroethylene MR 6 1989
Carbon tetrachloride MR 6 1989
Coliform (TCR) MR 5 2011
CARBON, TOTAL MR 5 2020
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 4 1989
BHC-GAMMA MR 4 2005
Methoxychlor MR 4 2005
Simazine MR 4 2005
Atrazine MR 4 2005
LASSO MR 4 2005
Heptachlor MR 4 2005
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 4 2005
Chlordane MR 4 2005
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 2020
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 4 2020
Heptachlor epoxide MR 4 2005
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 4 2005
Toxaphene MR 4 2005
Coliform (TCR) MCL 4 1993

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
ADONA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/18/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/18/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/18/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 6/26/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 6/26/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 6/26/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 6/26/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 6/26/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 6/26/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Baxter Springs, City Of.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID KS2002109 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Kansas Drinking Water Authority

Kansas's primacy agency administers the Safe Drinking Water Act locally. Search EPA SDWIS for the current state contact, or use the state's public health or environment department portal.

Find KS regulator via EPA SDWIS

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2025 TTHM MCL 102 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 2950
2022 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL 20 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 4000
2020 CARBON, TOTAL MR 5 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 2920
2020 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 0200
2020 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 4010
2020 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 0300
2018 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 1 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 4000
2018 Combined Uranium MR 1 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 4006
2011 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 10 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 7000
2011 Coliform (TCR) MR 5 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 3100
2008 Public Notice Other 2 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 7500
2005 BHC-GAMMA MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 2010
2005 Methoxychlor MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 2015
2005 Simazine MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 2037
2005 Atrazine MR 4 SDWIS / KS2002109 / 2050

How Baxter Springs, City Of Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Baxter Springs, City Of Kansas avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 285 88.1 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 142 34.9 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 86.4% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 3,852 3,025 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 957 regulated public water systems in Kansas.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Baxter Springs, City Of water safe to drink? ▼
Baxter Springs, City Of (PWS ID: KS2002109) has 285 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 3,852 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Baxter Springs, City Of serve? ▼
Baxter Springs, City Of serves 3,852 people in Baxter Springs, Kansas. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 1,977 service connections.
What type of violations does Baxter Springs, City Of have? ▼
Baxter Springs, City Of has 285 total violations: 142 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 128 monitoring/reporting violations, and 7 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Baxter Springs, City Of water? ▼
No. Baxter Springs, City Of was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Baxter Springs, City Of use? ▼
Baxter Springs, City Of uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from? ▼
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.