Water Quality

Monitoring water quality has been a core goal of the District since establishment in 1976. The District tracks groundwater quality across the region, tests water for local water users, and uses water quality data to guide management decisions.

The District operates its own water analysis laboratory at our office in Stafford. It offers quick, low-cost screening of nitrate and chloride concentrations.

Nitrate analysis

• Instrument: Hach DR900 Multiparameter colorimeter
• Method: Cadmium reduction (Hach Method 8039)
• Measurement range: 0.3 to 30 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N)

Chloride analysis

• Instrument: Hach HQD HQ440D meter with ISECL181 ion-selective electrode
• Method: Direct ISE (Hach Method 10255)
• Measurement range: 3.55 mg/L to 35 g/L chloride (Cl⁻)

Laboratory water quality: Reagents and standards are prepared with water purified by a Typhoon III reverse osmosis/deionization system, which helps keep contaminants out of the testing process.

How to read your nitrate result: Nitrate results are reported as nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N), the same unit used in the EPA drinking water standard of 10 mg/L.

Quality assurance: To check the accuracy of our results, the District periodically sends samples to a KDHE-certified laboratory and compares those results with our own. These comparisons have shown good agreement with the certified lab.

Please note: The District’s laboratory is not certified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Results are intended for screening and general assessment. For regulatory, legal, or real estate purposes, or to test for other contaminants such as bacteria, arsenic, or uranium, please use a KDHE-certified laboratory.

The District monitors groundwater through a network of observation wells. In total, there are nearly 250 water level measurement sites, and nearly 150 of them are water quality sites. Sampling these wells over time lets the District spot trends and respond to areas of concern. 

The District is in the process of adding additional monitoring sites throughout the western half of the District. If you would be interested, please contact the office to discuss details.

The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) is developing a comprehensive groundwater quality monitoring network. The program aims to:

• Collect baseline chemistry data to identify areas where groundwater quality is at risk or not meeting health standards, and to detect future decline.
• Create a public data platform that integrates groundwater quality data across agencies and links to existing KGS water databases.

Water users can contact KGS to take part. Learn more about the program.