Topeka water had a minor cloudiness violation in March, officials say it remains safe to drink

During the month of March, the City of Topeka temporarily had higher-than-normal cloudiness in its water.

The cloudiness, officially referred to as turbidity, was caused by conditions of the Kansas River due to recent rainfall.

City staff self-reported the information to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). KDHE considered the turbidity levels a minor violation. KDHE and City staff were in regular communication, and agreed the water remained safe to drink throughout the period of turbidity.

“We are alerting the public to this information to be transparent, and to also assure them that the water in Topeka is safe to drink,” said Braxton Copley, Director of Utilities. “While turbidity temporarily exceeded normal levels, cloudiness does often occur after the first heavy rainfall of the year. I am very proud of our Utilities staff who worked tirelessly to resolve this situation.”

The City’s turbidity levels were out of compliance with KDHE regulations for approximately 13 hours.

The City’s water remains in compliance with KDHE standards in all aspects.