Norton County, Kansas — public water systems
At a glance
8 active public water systems are filed under Norton County, Kansas in EPA's SDWIS records, together reporting 4,426 people served. The largest is City of Norton, which reports serving 2,758 people. 5 are community water systems serving people where they live; the other 3 are non-community systems, such as schools, workplaces, campgrounds and gas stations with their own supply.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO, refreshed quarterly.
Active systems
8
Population served
4.4K
Community systems
5
Groundwater share
87.5%
How does Norton County compare with other Kansas counties?
Norton County has the 59th-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 4,426 people served in total, the 65th-largest county figure in the state and 0.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 553 people, well 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 Norton County's drinking water come from?
By primary water source, Norton County's active systems draw on groundwater (7, 88%) and surface water (1, 13%). Overall, 88% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 13% on surface water, compared with 66% and 34% across Kansas. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, City of Norton, draws primarily on surface water.
What kinds of water systems operate in Norton County?
Norton County's active systems break down as 5 community systems (63%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (13%) and 2 transient non-community systems (25%). 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 (63%) and state government (38%).
Water systems in Norton County
🔒 Create a free account to export CSV| # | Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norton, City of | Norton | 2,758 | Community | Surface water |
| 2 | Norton Correctional Facility | Norton | 950 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| 3 | Almena, City of | Norton | 366 | Community | Groundwater |
| 4 | Lenora, City of | Norton | 206 | Community | Groundwater |
| 5 | Norton Co Rwd 1 | Norton | 50 | Community | Groundwater |
| 6 | Clayton, City of | Norton | 46 | Community | Groundwater |
| 7 | Kdot Norton Reservoir Rest Area 31515 | Norton | 25 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| 8 | Prairie Dog State Park | Norton | 25 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
Norton County water systems: frequently asked questions
How many public water systems are in Norton County, Kansas?
EPA's SDWIS records file 8 active public water systems under Norton County, Kansas: 5 community systems (63%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (13%) and 2 transient non-community systems (25%).
Who supplies drinking water in Norton County, KS?
The largest community water systems filed under Norton County are City of Norton (2,758 people served), City of Almena (366 people served) and City of Lenora (206 people served). Which system serves a particular address depends on its service area, which EPA's SDWIS records do not include; a water bill or the local utility can confirm it.
Does Norton County's drinking water come from groundwater or surface water?
Of the 8 active public water systems in Norton County, 88% draw mainly on groundwater and 13% on surface water, counting purchased supplies. The largest system, City of Norton, uses surface water.
Where can I find a water quality report for Norton County?
Each community water system must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1, covering the previous calendar year. 5 community systems are filed under Norton County, so the report to look for is the one from the system that supplies your address.
How can I check violations for a water system in Norton County?
Open the system's profile from the list on this page. Each profile shows the most recent Safe Drinking Water Act violations in EPA's records, with plain-English labels and whether each one is resolved. For current compliance status, EPA ECHO is the primary source.
More Kansas water systems
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, “Public water systems in Norton County, Kansas”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/kansas/norton (data as of October 1, 2026).