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City of Belle Plaine

What EPA’s and Kansas’s records show in this utility’s water: nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
1,468 people
Connections
727
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Belle Plaine, KS
County
Sumner
Owner
Local government
Hardness
Hard
The ZIP code it serves

67013

The short answer

2 results are above EPA’s legal limit, and 2 more are above the health goal. The worst: Copper, above the action level. 16 health-based violations since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

Lead and copper: EPA SDWIS monitoring periods ending 1995 to 2021.

Nitrate, arsenic, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), haloacetic acids (HAA5), fluoride and chromium (total): Kansas’s own results, samples taken from Jan. 8, 2020 to Sept. 8, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

Above the legal limit2

Copper

Comes from pipes, often your own

Above the action level

1.9ppm

90th percentile, 2019 to 2021

In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 1.9 ppm, above EPA’s action level of 1.3 ppm.

What handles it

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Above the legal limit

12ppm

Highest sample; found in 54 of 54

2026, one sample: 4.5 ppm

From 2021 to 2025, at least 25 samples were above EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm, the highest 12 ppm in 2022. The next sample at the same point, within 30 days, kept the average above the limit for four; 21 have no follow-up sample on file within 30 days. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 4.5 ppm. EPA recorded violations for nitrate at this utility in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 11 ppm, in 2019, and EPA recorded a violation in 2019.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”

Above the health goal2

Lead

Comes from pipes, often your own

Above the health goal

2.9ppb

90th percentile, 2022 to 2024

In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 2.9 ppb, below EPA’s action level of 15 ppb. The action level drops to 10 ppb on Nov. 1, 2027. EPA’s health goal for lead is zero.

What handles it

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

0.7ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2025

2025: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.7 ppb, in 2021: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. Its highest single sample was 1.4 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 1.4 ppb, in 2019.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Below EPA’s limits4

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

17ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2026

2026, one sample: 10 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 17 ppb, in 2023, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 10 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 29 ppb, in 2012.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

7.9ppb

Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2026

2026, one sample: 5.4 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 7.9 ppb, in 2024, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 5.4 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 5.9 ppb, in 2012.

What handles it

No certification claim covers this compound yet.

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

0.27ppm

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2025

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.27 ppm, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. That was also the latest year on file. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 0.27 ppm, in 2012.

What handles it

Chromium (total)

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

1.1ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2025

2025: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.1 ppb, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 100 ppb. Its highest single sample was 1.2 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 2.8 ppb, in 2018.

What handles it

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claims: Copper Reduction, Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge), Lead Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Copper, Nitrate, Lead, Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claims: Copper Reduction, Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction, Lead Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction

    For: Copper, Nitrate, Lead, Arsenic

    Other certifiers’ wording: Nitrate; Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

At the tap, or for the whole house?

Lead and copper usually come from pipes and fixtures inside or near your home. A whole-house system sits where water enters, so it cannot catch what your own plumbing adds after it. For those, the filter that counts is the one at the tap. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

Compare five-year costs

The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

The best water filters for lead, ranked

Hardness

Hard, typically 175 mg/L (10.2 grains per gallon), across 3 sampling points, 2015 to 2025.

Hardness is calcium and magnesium. EPA sets no limit for it: it shows up as scale on fixtures and in water heaters, and as soap that won’t lather. USGS calls water above 60 mg/L moderately hard, above 120 hard and above 180 very hard.

Softeners compared at 10.2 grains per gallon, salt includedSoftener or salt-free conditioner?Kansas water hardness, utility by utility

Violations since 2016

Contaminant or ruleTypePeriodMeasuredStatus
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleApril 1, 2025 to June 30, 202511 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJan. 1, 2025 to March 31, 202511 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJan. 1, 2024 to March 31, 202411 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleOct. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 202311 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJuly 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 202311 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleApril 1, 2023 to June 30, 202311 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJan. 1, 2023 to March 31, 202311 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleOct. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 202211 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJuly 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 202211 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleApril 1, 2022 to June 30, 202212 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJan. 1, 2022 to March 31, 202211 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleOct. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 202111 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJuly 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 202111 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleApril 1, 2021 to June 30, 202112 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 202111 MG/LResolved
NitrateA sample was above the legal limit, for a contaminant judged one sample at a time.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Single SampleJan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 201911 MG/LResolved
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 3 monitoring or reporting violations not shown.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Nitrate, arsenic, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), haloacetic acids (HAA5), fluoride and chromium (total) results here are Kansas’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. City of Belle Plaine’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; Kansas’s results run from Jan. 8, 2020 to Sept. 8, 2026.

Testing your own tap

City of Belle Plaine’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab Kansas certifies.

The lab Kansas certifies closest to the area City of Belle Plaine serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Meridian Analytical Laboratory - Wichita

    Wichita, KS · about 17 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts

    (316) 618-8787

All 47 certified labs for Kansas

Sources

PWSID KS2019115. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in Sumner County

All Kansas utilities

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