What do 'detected', 'median', and 'range' mean in the sampling record on this page?
When a laboratory test report lists chloramine, it often includes terms like 'detected', 'median', and 'range'. 'Detected' means the instrument found the presence of chloramine at some level. 'Median' refers to the middle value of all samples taken, showing a typical level in the measurements. 'Range' shows the lowest and highest recorded values in the sampling period. These terms describe what was found in the water system overall, not in any one home.
How do public-system records differ from private-well testing in what they establish?
Public water system sampling, such as that for Olathe, reflects conditions at multiple points and times within the community’s entire distribution system. It does not provide a specific test result for an individual household’s well or tap water. Private well water should be tested separately to understand local conditions because it can vary significantly from the public system’s composite data.
How do sample depth, well depth, or source type change what a reader should expect?
Olathe’s public water supply uses surface water sources, which typically receive chloramine as a disinfectant during treatment. This differs from groundwater well sources, where chloramine is generally not applied. Therefore, households connected to the Olathe public system can expect chloramine to be present in their tap water as part of the system’s treatment process, unlike private wells, which may have none or very different constituents.
How does chloramine enter groundwater or the distribution system in this region?
In Johnson County and Olathe’s public water system, chloramine is added during the water treatment process to disinfect and maintain water quality as it travels through pipes to homes. This disinfectant is intentionally introduced and controlled by the city’s water management team. It is not naturally occurring in groundwater but is part of the surface water treatment protocol.
A worked example: How should a homeowner read the record's median and range?
The EPA’s record for Olathe (KS2009115) shows no health-based violations related to disinfectants. The system serves roughly 143,000 people and uses surface water. While chloramine is routinely applied, the record does not list specific concentration values for it, as it focuses on regulatory compliance. A homeowner should understand from this that chloramine presence is normal and managed but must test their own water if they want exact household levels.
What household or facility symptoms might indicate chloramine-related concerns?
Some households notice changes like slight water taste or odor differences, or effects on sensitive skin or aquarium health that may be linked to chloramine presence. However, these are aesthetic or secondary effects, not violations of safety standards. Conversely, symptoms such as cloudy water, staining, or plumbing corrosion are unlikely to be caused by chloramine alone and should be evaluated separately.
To address concerns about chloramine in household water, equipment like the C-Series Chloramine (City Water) Filter can be used. This system ships ready to configure and is designed to reduce chloramine and improve water quality for residential use.
The information here reflects data collected by the EPA for the Olathe public water system. It does not substitute for individual water testing. For more details, consult the EPA’s official water system record for Olathe (PWSID KS2009115).
Where this information comes from
Source: EPA SDWIS public water system record. Sampled 2023-12-31. These figures describe the public water system's record, not the plumbing inside any individual building.
On record: EPA SDWIS record for OLATHE, CITY OF (KS2009115), surface water supply, serving 143014 people: 0 health-based violations of 7 total; lead 90th percentile 0.011 mg/L