Quick answer
About 242,000 people in Kansas (8.5% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. Kansas Department of Health and Environment runs the state’s private well guidance. The Kansas Geological Survey (University of Kansas) tests domestic, lawn-and-garden, irrigation and stock wells at no charge as funding allows; single tests are first come, first served, up to 100 wells a year.
- People on private wells
- 242,133
- Share of residents
- 8.5%
- Rank among states
- 38th
- Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
- 4.1%
Where to get your well tested in Kansas
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Guidance Documents for Well Owners, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
- Well water testing in Kansas: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
- Certified laboratories in Kansas. Use a lab certified for drinking water, so results are reliable.
Free or low-cost testing
The Kansas Geological Survey (University of Kansas) tests domestic, lawn-and-garden, irrigation and stock wells at no charge as funding allows; single tests are first come, first served, up to 100 wells a year. (source)
Mail-in lab kits are another option when no local lab is convenient. See well water test kits for what home kits can and can’t tell you.
What to test for
- Every year: total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
- Before buying equipment: pH, hardness, iron, manganese and, if there’s a smell, hydrogen sulfide.
- Based on location: arsenic, uranium and radon, PFAS, and lead in older plumbing.
Private wells by county
Estimated people relying on private wells in each Kansas county in 2010, the share of residents that represents, and the modeled share of well users with arsenic above 10 µg/L. These are USGS model estimates (2010 population), not measurements of any well. Arsenic is hidden for counties with fewer than 500 well users.
| County | People on wells | Share | Arsenic >10 µg/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedgwick County | 40,789 | 8.2% | 5.0% |
| Reno County | 16,133 | 25.0% | 6.0% |
| Butler County | 13,708 | 20.8% | 5.0% |
| Leavenworth County | 7,627 | 10.0% | 2.2% |
| Finney County | 5,428 | 14.8% | 6.2% |
| Sumner County | 5,231 | 21.7% | 2.4% |
| Harvey County | 5,160 | 14.9% | 6.4% |
| Barton County | 4,985 | 18.0% | 3.8% |
| McPherson County | 4,942 | 16.9% | 3.5% |
| Douglas County | 4,481 | 4.0% | 2.3% |
| Ellis County | 4,436 | 15.6% | 3.8% |
| Riley County | 4,360 | 6.1% | 2.2% |
Show all 105 counties
| Dickinson County | 4,269 | 21.6% | 2.1% |
| Ford County | 4,244 | 12.5% | 2.7% |
| Shawnee County | 4,171 | 2.3% | 2.6% |
| Pottawatomie County | 4,058 | 18.8% | 2.5% |
| Cowley County | 3,895 | 10.7% | 6.0% |
| Marion County | 3,381 | 26.7% | 4.2% |
| Geary County | 3,186 | 9.3% | 3.2% |
| Saline County | 3,035 | 5.5% | 2.9% |
| Franklin County | 2,895 | 11.1% | 2.0% |
| Kingman County | 2,866 | 36.5% | 3.6% |
| Jefferson County | 2,513 | 13.1% | 2.3% |
| Jackson County | 2,424 | 18.0% | 2.0% |
| Wabaunsee County | 2,417 | 34.3% | 3.4% |
| Cherokee County | 2,316 | 10.7% | 3.1% |
| Brown County | 2,256 | 22.6% | 2.0% |
| Morris County | 2,256 | 38.1% | 6.0% |
| Pratt County | 2,088 | 21.6% | 3.0% |
| Rice County | 2,049 | 20.3% | 4.6% |
| Lyon County | 2,022 | 6.0% | 4.4% |
| Gray County | 1,971 | 32.8% | 4.0% |
| Montgomery County | 1,934 | 5.5% | 3.7% |
| Seward County | 1,845 | 8.0% | 4.0% |
| Ottawa County | 1,777 | 29.2% | 2.4% |
| Thomas County | 1,760 | 22.3% | 6.0% |
| Miami County | 1,740 | 5.3% | 1.3% |
| Norton County | 1,724 | 30.4% | 4.0% |
| Nemaha County | 1,649 | 16.2% | 2.4% |
| Phillips County | 1,568 | 27.8% | 3.0% |
| Stafford County | 1,567 | 35.3% | 4.0% |
| Doniphan County | 1,524 | 19.2% | 3.2% |
| Clay County | 1,510 | 17.7% | 3.0% |
| Atchison County | 1,502 | 8.9% | 2.1% |
| Marshall County | 1,469 | 14.5% | 2.4% |
| Cloud County | 1,390 | 14.6% | 3.8% |
| Washington County | 1,296 | 22.4% | 2.4% |
| Pawnee County | 1,294 | 18.6% | 3.0% |
| Grant County | 1,255 | 16.0% | 11.2% |
| Haskell County | 1,242 | 29.2% | 5.0% |
| Johnson County | 1,213 | 0.2% | 1.9% |
| Stevens County | 1,055 | 18.4% | 7.1% |
| Ellsworth County | 1,044 | 16.1% | 3.3% |
| Osage County | 1,041 | 6.4% | 1.8% |
| Sherman County | 1,030 | 17.1% | 5.0% |
| Scott County | 993 | 20.1% | 4.0% |
| Sheridan County | 987 | 38.6% | 6.0% |
| Meade County | 985 | 21.5% | 3.0% |
| Coffey County | 951 | 11.1% | 2.1% |
| Gove County | 943 | 35.0% | 5.6% |
| Republic County | 942 | 18.9% | 3.0% |
| Chase County | 926 | 33.2% | 7.0% |
| Lincoln County | 912 | 28.1% | 3.0% |
| Smith County | 908 | 23.6% | 2.0% |
| Rawlins County | 874 | 34.7% | 4.0% |
| Kearny County | 853 | 21.4% | 9.0% |
| Rooks County | 847 | 16.3% | 3.0% |
| Harper County | 827 | 13.7% | 3.0% |
| Cheyenne County | 808 | 29.6% | 4.0% |
| Decatur County | 798 | 26.9% | 6.0% |
| Kiowa County | 775 | 30.4% | 3.0% |
| Trego County | 764 | 25.5% | 4.0% |
| Barber County | 740 | 15.2% | 3.0% |
| Linn County | 735 | 7.6% | 1.0% |
| Hodgeman County | 731 | 38.2% | 3.0% |
| Graham County | 723 | 27.8% | 5.1% |
| Chautauqua County | 721 | 19.6% | 2.0% |
| Hamilton County | 701 | 26.0% | 9.0% |
| Ness County | 691 | 22.2% | 3.8% |
| Greenwood County | 690 | 10.3% | 3.7% |
| Edwards County | 677 | 22.3% | 3.0% |
| Osborne County | 665 | 17.2% | 2.0% |
| Neosho County | 625 | 3.8% | 1.1% |
| Anderson County | 618 | 7.6% | 1.8% |
| Rush County | 592 | 17.9% | 3.0% |
| Wichita County | 587 | 26.3% | 5.0% |
| Wilson County | 521 | 5.5% | 2.5% |
| Morton County | 517 | 16.0% | 7.0% |
| Labette County | 505 | 2.3% | 1.1% |
| Logan County | 501 | 18.2% | 5.0% |
| Jewell County | 496 | 16.1% | – |
| Woodson County | 485 | 14.7% | – |
| Clark County | 475 | 21.4% | – |
| Stanton County | 474 | 21.2% | – |
| Wallace County | 471 | 31.7% | – |
| Wyandotte County | 466 | 0.3% | – |
| Bourbon County | 458 | 3.0% | – |
| Mitchell County | 446 | 7.0% | – |
| Allen County | 441 | 3.3% | – |
| Russell County | 430 | 6.2% | – |
| Lane County | 426 | 24.4% | – |
| Comanche County | 401 | 21.2% | – |
| Greeley County | 371 | 29.7% | – |
| Crawford County | 330 | 0.8% | – |
| Elk County | 309 | 10.7% | – |
Counties with the highest modeled arsenic share: Grant County (11.2%), Kearny County (9.0%), Hamilton County (9.0%), Stevens County (7.1%), Chase County (7.0%).
After you get results
Enter your numbers in the test results tool to see what needs treating and in what order. The guide to reading a well water test explains units and limits.
Common questions
Does Kansas offer free well water testing?
The Kansas Geological Survey (University of Kansas) tests domestic, lawn-and-garden, irrigation and stock wells at no charge as funding allows; single tests are first come, first served, up to 100 wells a year.
Who oversees private wells in Kansas?
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Guidance Documents for Well Owners) publishes guidance for private well owners. Private wells aren’t covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so testing and treatment are up to the owner.
How many people use private wells in Kansas?
USGS estimates about 242,000 people, or 8.5% of the population in 2010. That ranks 38th of the states covered by the estimate.
What should I test my well for in Kansas?
Test every year for total coliform bacteria and nitrate, plus pH, hardness, iron and manganese before buying equipment. Ask the state program or a certified lab about local concerns such as arsenic, uranium or PFAS.
Sources
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Guidance Documents for Well Owners
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: well water testing
- Kansas certified laboratories
- Kansas free or low-cost testing
- USGS data release: domestic well locations and populations served, 2000 and 2010 (Johnson, Belitz and Lombard, 2019)
- CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking: private well water data (from USGS)