Public water system · KS2005111
ActiveHays, City of
At a glance
City of Hays (PWSID KS2005111) is an active community water system in Ellis County, Kansas. It reports serving 21,040 people through 8,293 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2019.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
21,040
Service connections
8,293
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does City of Hays compare with other water systems in Ellis County?
By EPA's size categories, City of Hays is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Ellis County has 14 active public water systems, and City of Hays is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 11 times the county average of 1,865 people per system, and accounts for 81% of the 26,113 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 Hays is about 3.1 times 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. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 587 Kansas systems (56%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates City of Hays?
EPA lists City of Hays 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. 7 of the 14 active systems in Ellis County (50%) are also owned by a local government.
Does City of Hays have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2019. The violations listed here began between January 1988 and May 2019. By type: 7 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2019-05-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-12-30 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2015-09-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Acute (TCR) · code 21 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1998-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingInitial Tap Sampling for Pb and Cu · code 51 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | p-Dichlorobenzenecode 2969 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 1,2-Dichloroethanecode 2980 | No | Resolved |
| 1988-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Vinyl chloridecode 2976 | No | 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 Hays: frequently asked questions
Who runs City of Hays?
City of Hays (PWSID KS2005111) 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 Hays serve?
City of Hays reports serving 21,040 people through 8,293 service connections in Ellis County, Kansas.
Where does City of Hays get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does City of Hays have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2019. 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 Hays' 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in May 2019. 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 Hays' water quality report?
As a community water system, City of Hays 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 Ellis County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis, City of | Ellis | 2,001 | Community | Groundwater |
| Victoria, City of | Ellis | 1,149 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ellis Co Rwd 6 | Ellis | 383 | Community | Groundwater |
| Ellis Co Rwd 1c | Ellis | 340 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Countryside Estates MHP Hays Ks, LLC | Ellis | 300 | Community | Purchased groundwater |
| Ellis Co Rwd 3 | Ellis | 200 | Community | Groundwater |
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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, “Hays, City of, PWSID KS2005111, Kansas”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/kansas/hays-city-of-ks2005111 (data as of October 1, 2026).