Cherokee County, Kansas — public water systems

How does Cherokee County compare with other Kansas counties?

Cherokee County has the 8th-most active public water systems among the 136 counties listed for active Kansas systems in EPA records; among the 101 with 3 or more systems, the median has 9. Its systems report 19,138 people served in total, the 29th-largest county figure in the state and 0.7% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 1,063 people, about 62% below the Kansas average of 2,800. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Cherokee County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Cherokee County's active systems draw on purchased surface water (8, 44%), groundwater (7, 39%), surface water (2, 11%) and purchased groundwater (1, 5.6%). Overall, 44% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 56% on surface water, compared with 66% and 34% across Kansas. Purchased surface water means the system buys surface water from another public water system rather than drawing its own. The county's largest system, City of Baxter Springs, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Cherokee County?

Cherokee County's active systems break down as 16 community systems (89%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (5.6%) and 1 transient non-community systems (5.6%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as local government (94%) and private (5.6%).