Public water system · KS2020511
ActiveBuffalo, City of
At a glance
City of Buffalo (PWSID KS2020511) is an active community water system in Wilson County, Kansas. It reports serving 218 people through 121 service connections. Its primary water source is purchased surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2023.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
218
Service connections
121
Primary source
SWP
Purchased surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Buffalo compare with other water systems in Wilson County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Buffalo is a very small system (500 people or fewer). Wilson County has 16 active public water systems. Its population served is about 60% below the county average of 550 people per system, and accounts for 2.5% of the 8,803 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Kansas, the 1,041 active systems average 2,800 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so City of Buffalo is well below that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Kansas has 863 active community water systems, 83% of the state's 1,041 active systems. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. 278 Kansas systems (27%) list purchased surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Buffalo?
EPA lists City of Buffalo as owned by a local government. The KS state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 16 of the 16 active systems in Wilson County (100%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Buffalo have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2023. The violations listed here began between April 2009 and December 2023. By type: 7 contaminant level above the legal limit, 4 monitoring and reporting and 1 monitoring. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Haloacetic acids (HAA5) (4 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-01 | MonitoringMonitoring, Additional Routine (RTCR) · code 3B | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | No | Resolved |
| 2023-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Chlorinecode 0999 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-02-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Major (TCR) · code 23 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2012-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average · code 02 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | Yes | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
City of Buffalo: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Buffalo?
City of Buffalo (PWSID KS2020511) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the KS state drinking water program.
How many people does City of Buffalo serve?
City of Buffalo reports serving 218 people through 121 service connections in Wilson County, Kansas.
Where does City of Buffalo get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as purchased surface water. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own.
Does City of Buffalo have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2023. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is City of Buffalo's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2023. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the KS state drinking water program.
Where can I find City of Buffalo's water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Buffalo must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Wilson County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neodesha, City of | Wilson | 2,246 | Community | Surface water |
| Fredonia, City of | Wilson | 2,111 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Wilson Co Rwd 11 | Wilson | 836 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Wilson Co Rwd 10 | Wilson | 808 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Wilson Co Rwd 7 | Wilson | 585 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Wilson Co Rwd 9 | Wilson | 447 | Community | Purchased surface water |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Buffalo, City of, PWSID KS2020511, Kansas”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/kansas/buffalo-city-of-ks2020511 (data as of October 1, 2026).