Interested in Sampling Your Well?

The Kansas Geological Survey has restarted a groundwater quality program within the state of Kansas. Private well owners can sign up to get their domestic, lawn and garden, irrigation, or stock wells tested at no charge (see the "What Type of Testing Is Included?" sidebar on this page). A KGS representative will collect the sample after coordinating a date and time with the well owner. Well owners can choose to have their well tested one time only or to be a part of a longer-term study in which the KGS samples the well every two years to monitor quality changes over time. Both group sizes are limited by funding. Single test well sampling is on a first come, first served basis, up to 100 wells per year. The long-term study is limited to 300 wells and applicants may be chosen based on geographical distribution.

To sign up for free well testing, please fill out this form. Results will be emailed to well owners. Results also will be entered into the groundwater quality database on the KGS website.

The KGS has developed an online map, the Groundwater Quality Data Explorer, where results of groundwater samples can be viewed. The default choice for domestic, lawn and garden, irrigation, and stock wells is for results to be displayed at the township level (6 mile x 6 mile square; fig. 1) rather than at point of well location (fig. 2). Monitoring well and public water supply well data will be displayed at point of well location. Domestic well owners have the option on the sign-up form to have their data displayed at the point level instead of the township level.

Kansas Geological Survey Township Map Example
Figure 1. Example of results displayed at the township level.
Kansas Geological Survey Point Data Map Example
Figure 2. Example of results displayed at the point of well location.

The Groundwater Quality Data Explorer and database contain groundwater quality data collected by or submitted to the KGS. The KGS’s Aquifer Water Quality Assessment (AWQUA) Program samples wells every year and adds the laboratory results to the database. Groundwater quality data are also uploaded from historical KGS reports, Kansas Department of Health and Environment reports and historical sample collection, Kansas Groundwater Management District sample collection, and any other source willing to provide information for entry into the database. Imported data from outside sources must pass a quality control check by the KGS before inclusion. Historical report data are continually added to the database as time and availability allow.

What Type of Testing Is Included?

  • Nitrate

  • Ammonia

  • Chloride

  • Phosphate

  • Fluoride

  • Hardness

  • Arsenic

  • Iron

  • Lead

  • Manganese

  • Magnesium

  • Uranium

  • Sulfate

  • Calcium

  • Sodium

  • Potassium

  • Bromide

  • Bicarbonate

  • Alkalinity

  • Electrical Conductivity

  • Total Organic Carbon

  • Total Dissolved Solids