Sedgwick County, Kansas — public water systems

How does Sedgwick County compare with other Kansas counties?

Sedgwick County has the 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 498,426 people served in total, the 2nd-largest county figure in the state and 17% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 17,187 people, about 6.1 times 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 Sedgwick County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Sedgwick County's active systems draw on groundwater (17, 59%), purchased surface water (9, 31%), purchased groundwater (2, 6.9%) and surface water (1, 3.4%). Overall, 66% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 34% 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 Wichita, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Sedgwick County?

Sedgwick County's active systems break down as 23 community systems (79%), 2 non-transient non-community systems (6.9%) and 4 transient non-community systems (14%). 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 (72%), private (24%) and federal government (3.4%).