City of Olathe

Safe Water Is Our Priority: The City of Olathe delivers quality water that meets or exceeds all state and federal health standards. Annually, our team conducts over 90,500 tests to identify and address any water quality concerns. During 2017, Olathe had zero municipal water regulation violations.

Water Sources: Olathe obtains untreated source water from wells along the Kansas River near DeSoto. In 2017, we processed 4.57 billion gallons from four large collector wells situated along the Kansas River aquifer. As water filters through ground layers, it absorbs naturally occurring minerals and occasionally radioactive materials. It may also collect chemicals from animal or human activities. Water composition varies seasonally, requiring specialized treatment approaches to ensure consistently safe water for our residents.

All water sources, including bottled options, reasonably contain small amounts of contaminants. Their presence doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA rules set similar standards for bottled water. For detailed information about contaminants and potential health effects, contact the EPA's Safe Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or visit EPA.Gov/SafeWater.

Potential contaminants in source water before treatment include:

• Microbial contaminants - viruses and bacteria from sewage facilities, septic systems, livestock operations, and wildlife
• Inorganic contaminants - naturally occurring salts and metals or those from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides and herbicides - from agriculture, urban stormwater runoff, and residential usage
• Organic chemical contaminants - industrial process byproducts, petroleum production derivatives, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive contaminants - naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

Health Considerations: Some individuals may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general population. People with compromised immune systems (cancer patients, transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients), elderly individuals, and infants might face higher infection risks. If you fall into these categories, consult your healthcare provider about drinking water safety.

Elevated lead levels can cause serious health issues, particularly for pregnant women and young children. Lead primarily enters water through service line materials and home plumbing components. While we provide high-quality water, we cannot control plumbing fixture materials. If your water has been stagnant for several hours, minimize lead exposure by running taps for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. For concerns about lead, consider water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and exposure reduction is available from the Safe Water Hotline or EPA.gov/SafeWater/Lead.

Total organic carbon (TOC) itself has no health effects but creates a medium for disinfection byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs).

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