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"I am honored to present the 2025 Water Quality Report on behalf of Lee's Summit Water Utilities. I’ve got the privilege of leading a team deeply committed to protecting public health and delivering high-quality water and sewer services to our growing community. This report reflects our regulatory compliance and shared commitment to service excellence, public trust and long-term infrastructure stewardship."

- Director of Water Utilities Jeffrey Thorn

Director's Message >

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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear Stakeholders,

I am honored to present the 2025 Water Quality Report on behalf of Lee's Summit Water Utilities. I’ve got the privilege of leading a team deeply committed to protecting public health and delivering high-quality water and sewer services to our growing community. This report reflects our regulatory compliance and shared commitment to service excellence, public trust, and long-term infrastructure stewardship.

Over the past year, we have advanced several key initiatives that strengthen our mission to deliver safe, reliable and sustainable water and sewer services to every household, business and public institution in Lee’s Summit, as well as the broader communities within our service area.


Among our most notable accomplishments in 2024:

  • Planning for Growth and Resilience
    We began strategic discussions with Kansas City Water Services to secure an additional 8 million gallons per day of treated water. This future supply, outlined in the 2023 Water Master Plan, will expand our total contractual capacity to 40.5 million gallons per day, helping to support continued residential and economic growth.
  • Protecting Public Health through Compliance and Transparency
    We successfully completed the EPA-mandated Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) ahead of the October 2024 deadline. This proactive measure, driven by lessons learned from communities like Flint, Michigan, allowed us to identify and notify customers with potential lead service lines. We’ve already begun replacing those lines and remain fully committed to removing all known lead service lines in the coming years.
  • Achieving National Accreditation from the American Public Works Association
    In 2024, Lee’s Summit Water Utilities earned national accreditation from the American Public Works Association, a significant milestone highlighting our department’s commitment to excellence, transparency and continuous improvement. This designation makes Water Utilities the fifth City department to achieve APWA accreditation, placing Lee’s Summit among a very small number of cities in Missouri with five nationally accredited departments. This independent review of our policies, procedures and service delivery standards provided valuable insights that are already helping us strengthen operations and improve efficiency. More importantly, it affirms to our community that we operate with integrity, accountability and a forward-thinking approach. Earning APWA accreditation is not a one-time achievement. It’s part of our ongoing journey to ensure we are always improving, innovating and delivering the high-quality service our residents and businesses expect and deserve.

These accomplishments demonstrate our strategic focus on planning, innovation and accountability. Whether you’re a resident turning on your tap, a business leader planning for future development or an elected official shaping public policy, you deserve a utility that meets your needs today and anticipates the demands of tomorrow.

Looking ahead, continued investment in infrastructure will be critical. From replacing aging pipes to planning for future capacity, our goal is to ensure Lee’s Summit remains a place where families thrive, businesses grow, and our customers are well served.

I want to thank each of you for your trust and support. Our work is not just about pipes and fittings. It’s about serving people, safeguarding health and contributing to the overall vitality of our community. It’s a privilege to serve in this role, and I look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.

In Service,

Jeff Thorn
Director of Water Utilities

Public Water System ID Number: MO1010459

Water Quality

In 2024, Lee’s Summit Water Utilities submitted 1,333 water samples for water quality testing. Our test results demonstrate that your drinking water surpasses the water quality standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Lee's Summit Water Facility pond with water

The report summarizes the quality of the water and contains the most recent water supply test results as required by the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996. Our water, purchased from Kansas City and Independence, meets or exceeds all federal and state standards set by the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health. Refer to the chart in this report for a full list of monitoring results. Printed copies can be requested at 816.969.1900.

As required by law, all data in this report is from 2024. If a known health-related contaminant is not listed in this report, it was not detected during testing.

Lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and groundwater wells are the sources of drinking water (tap and bottled water). As water travels over the surface of land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material. It can also pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity.

Water Utilities obtains its water from the cities of Kansas City and Independence. In the event of a water emergency, the utility has connections with additional suppliers in the area. Independence supplies Lee's Summit with up to 7.5 million gallons of water daily from wells near the Missouri River. Lee's Summit receives up to 25 million gallons of water daily from Kansas City. Water Utilities has secured a sufficient water supply for the next few decades to meet the community's needs.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may contain small amounts of contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. 

Contaminants That May Be Present in Source Water

  • Microbial contaminants (viruses and bacteria). These may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations and wildlife.

  • Inorganic contaminants (salts and metals). These can be naturally occurring or caused by urban stormwater runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining or farming.
  • Pesticides and herbicides may come from sources such as agriculture, urban stormwater runoff and residential uses.
  • Organic chemical contaminants (synthetic and volatile organic chemicals). These are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production. They also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff and septic systems.
  • Radioactive contaminants can occur naturally or be caused by oil and gas production and mining activities. 

To ensure tap water is safe to drink, the Department of Natural Resources prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The Department of Health regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water that must provide the same protection for public health.

More information about contaminants and potential health risks can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800.426.4791.

   

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

The utility's top priority is protecting public health and the quality of drinking water. Lee's Summit is taking a proactive approach by educating residents about emerging contaminants like PFAS.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals found in many everyday items, including firefighting foam, non-stick pans, raincoats, food wrappers and shampoo. These chemicals are a growing concern because they may be harmful to human health and linger in the environment forever. This means if they get into our water sources they could impact our drinking water for years to come.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new final rules in April 2024 to regulate five PFAS that may be found in water. They are PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and GenX Chemicals. EPA will regulate four PFAS contaminants as a mixture: PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and PFBS. This new rule aims to ensure that drinking water across the United States is safe from PFAS contamination. Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and begin reporting levels by 2027 to reduce any excess PFAS to below the levels set by EPA’s regulation by 2029.

Lee's Summit purchases water from Kansas City and Independence. Both suppliers are committed to providing safe drinking water. Even before recent regulations on emerging contaminants like PFAS, these suppliers had testing programs. Their results have fallen below the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the time of testing. Both suppliers are working to ensure full compliance with the EPA's stricter PFAS regulations.

Most PFAS exposure (around 80-90%) comes from everyday items we use or the food we eat, and not from drinking water.

Here's how to limit exposure:

  • Check labels: Look for "perfluoro" or "polyfluoro" on household products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing and stain guards. Avoid these items if possible.

While public water supplies are generally safe, some people may be more sensitive to PFAS and should seek advice from a healthcare provider, including:

  • Those with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.
  • Organ transplant recipients.
  • Anyone with HIV/AIDS or a weakened immune system.
  • The elderly or infants.
  • Those considered immunocompromised.

For specific information, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

   

Health Precautions

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. This includes those with: 

  • Weakened immune system due to chemotherapy, organ transplants, HIV/AIDS or other conditions. 
  • Age-related vulnerabilities (elderly).
  • Infant immune systems still under development.

If you fall into one of these categories, talk to your doctor about any concerns regarding drinking water. For more information on contaminants and potential health effects or to receive a copy of guidelines, contact the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791.

Drop by Drop

For reference, here's how these amounts compare to everyday items:

Part Per Million
(PPM)

One Drop in a
Hot Tub = One PPM

 

Part Per Billion
(PPB)

One Drop in an Olympic 
Size Swimming Pool = 
One PPB
 

Part Per Trillion 
(PPT)

One Drop in a
Six-Acre Lake =
One PPT
 

 

The Water Details

Disinfection Byproducts

Substance (unit of measure) Monitoring Period Sample Point MCL (MRDL) MCLG (MRDLG) LRAA Range
Low-High		 Typical Source
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-01 60 0 14 8.96 - 23.2 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-02 60 0 12 4.58 - 16.6 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-03 60 0 11 4.95 - 15.1 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-04 60 0 9 4.77 - 14.3 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-01 80 0 8 5.89 - 13.5 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-02 80 0 6 1.33 - 8.61 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-03 80 0 6 1.35 - 7.96 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) 2024 DBPDUAL-04 80 0 6 1.37 - 7.92 A byproduct of drinking water disinfection

 

Lead and Copper

Substance (unit of measure) Sample 
Period		 Violation 90%
Tile		 Range
Low - High		 AL Sites
Over AL		 Typical Source
Copper (ppm) 2021 - 2023 No 0.006 0.00127 - 0.00919 1.3 0 Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Lead (ppb) 2021 - 2023 No 0 0 15 0 Corrosion of household plumbing systems

 

Microbiological

Substance (unit of measure) MCLG
[MRDLG]		 Violation Result MCL
[MRDL]		 Typical Source
Coliform (total coliform rule) 0 No In the month of August, .96% of samples 
returned as positive		 Treatment Technique
Trigger		 Naturally present in the environment

 

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR)

Substance (unit of measure) Collection Date
of HV		 Highest Value Range of Sampled
Result(s)		 Unit
Lithium (total) 10/14/2024 56.7 26.4 - 56.7 UG/L
Perfluorobutanoic Acid 07/11/2024 0.00566 0.00566 UG/L

 

Violations and Health Effects Information

During the 2024 calendar year, we had the below-noted violations(s) of drinking water regulations.

Compliance Period Type Reason for Violation
5/1/24 - 5/31/2024 E. Coli Monitoring, Routine, Minor (RTCR)

 

Special Lead and Copper Notice

If present, lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Lee's Summit PWS is responsible for providing high quality drinking water and removing water system owned and controlled lead pipes, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components in your home. You share the responsibility for protecting yourself and your family from the lead in your home plumbing. You can take responsibility by identifying and removing lead materials in the portion of the service line you own, within your home plumbing, and taking steps to reduce your family’s risk. Before drinking tap water, flush your pipes for several minutes by running your tap, taking a shower, doing laundry or a load of dishes. You can also use a filter certified by an American National Standards Institute accredited certifier to reduce lead in drinking water. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available at the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Service line inventory is required and can be requested from Lee's Summit Water Utilities. View your Service line.

 

Reseller Regulated Contaminants

          Independence Water Kansas City Water  
Substance (unit of measure) Year Sampled Violation MCL [MRDL] MCLG [MRDLG] Highest Detected Range
Low-High		 Highest Detected Range
Low-High		 Typical Source
Atrazine (ppb) 2024 No 3 3     2.67 0 -2.67 Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Barium (ppm) 2024 No 2 2 0.0438 0.0438 0.0242 0.0242 Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits
Fluoride (ppm) 2024 No 4 4 0.23 0.23 0.746 0.746 Natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth
Nitrate - Nitrite (ppm) 2024 No 10 10 0.384 0.384 2.59 2.59 Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Selenium (ppb) 2024 No 50 50 - - 2.56 2.56 Erosion of natural deposits

 

Disinfection Byproducts

            Independence Water Kansas City Water
Substance (unit of measure) Sample Point Year Sampled Violation MCL [MRDL] MCLG [MRDLG] Highest LRAA Range Low-High Highest LRAA Range Low-High
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-01 2024 No 60 0     14 9.77 - 18.5
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-02 2024 No 60 0     14 8.68 - 20.6
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-03 2024 No 60 0 4 3.51 - 4.92    
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-04 2024 No 60 0 5 2.75 - 6.95 15 9.92 - 19.7
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-05 2024 No 60 0     14 9.3 - 20.4
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-06 2024 No 60 0     14 9.96 - 19.3
Haloacetic Acids [HAA5] (ppb) DBPDUAL-15 2024 No 60 0     14 10.2 - 19.1
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-01 2024 No 80 0     14 5.2 - 13.9
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-02 2024 No 80 0     10 5.47 - 12.5
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-03 2024 No 80 0 3 1.26 - 6.08    
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-04 2024 No 80 0 4 1.09 - 6.69 10 5.43 - 13.6
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-05 2024 No 80 0     10 5.36 - 13.7
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-06 2024 No 80 0     10 5.39 - 13.9
TTHMs [Total Trihalomethanes] (ppb) DBPDUAL-15 2024 No 80 0     9 4.4 - 13.1

 

Reseller Violations and Health Effects Information

      Independence Water Kansas City Water
Substance (unit of measure) Year Sampled Violation Range
Low-High		 Range
Low-High
Hardness, Total (as CAC03) 2021 No 123 123

 

Reseller Violations and Health Effects Information

During the 2024 calendar year, the water system(s) that we purchase water from had the below-noted violation(s) of drinking water regulations.

Water System Type Category Analyte Compliance Period
Independence PWS Adequacy/Availability/Content RPT Consumer Confidence Rule 7/1/2024 - 9/11/2024
Jackson County PWSD 2 Report Sample Result/Fail Monitor RTCR RPT Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) 3/1/2024 - 3/31/2024

 

*Terms, Abbreviations and Symbols

 

We Maintain


639
miles of water main

14,535
valves in the distribution system for customers

5,486
hydrants for fire protection

4
pumping stations to sustain supply

9
water towers and storage tanks
 

 

 


500
public sewer mains move wastewater to
treatment plants

12,513
manholes allow access to sewer mains

22
pumping stations move wastewater to the
Little Blue Valley Sewer District's 
treatment plant

33,557
sewer accounts

4
billion gallons of wastewater treated
each year

Rates & Fees

Rates are evaluated on an annual basis with a five-year forecast and approved by the customer-based Water Utilities Advisory Board and Lee's Summit City Council.




water utilities employee laying underground pipe

Water Volume Rates

Monthly Quantity Charge (rate per 1,000 gallons)
Customer Type Consumption Rate

Residential

 < 7,000 gallons $5.37
7,001 to 15,000 gallons $6.30
> 15,001 gallons $7.87
Commercial All Usage $6.30
 

Note: Monthly volumetric charges are effective January 1, 2025

Sewer Volume Rates

Monthly Quantity Charge (Rate per 1,000 gallons)
Customer Type Consumption Rate
Residential Subject to Winter Sewer Average $6.70
Commercial All Usage $6.70

Base Charges

Meter Size Base Water Base Sewer
5/8" $12.62 $17.67
3/4" $14.12 $20.07
1" $18.92 $26.89
1 1/2" $31.53 $44.82
2" $63.06 $71.72
3" $100.89 $89.66
4" $126.11 $125.51
6" $151.34 $179.31
8" $214.40 $215.17
10" $441.40 $268.95
 

Note: Monthly base charges are effective January 1, 2025




water hydrant releasing water

Customer Care

(2024 Data)

30,948 Customer Calls  
14,958 Service Orders  
3,982 In-person Payments  
14,641 Physical Payments  
2,742 Customer Emails  
1,521 Customer Payment Arrangements  
4,059 Meters Changed

 

Maintenance

(2024 Data)

Water

 2,417 Hydrants Maintained 
3,417 Water Valves Excercised
 91 Meter Well Adjustments
 148 Water Main Breaks Repaired

Wastewater

 443,430 Feet of Sewer Pipes Jetted
111 Manhole Inspections

 

 

Comparison Rates

Lee's Summit Water Utilities has maintained some of the lowest water and sewer rates in the metropolitan area, while still making strategic investments in water and sewer infrastructure and services.

Residential Rate Comparisons >

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Utility Water Demand

Demand MGD January February March April May June July August September October November December
Average Demand 8.28 7.79 7.73 9.71 8.89 14.32 14.95 15.9 16.4 14.44 9.06 7.99
Highest Demand Amount 9.48 8.51 8.57 11.95 12.79 23.16 21.85 16.68 20.15 16.57 11.73 9.81
Highest Demand Date 1/18/2024 2/1/2024 3/19/2024 4/4/2024 5/23/2024 6/14/2024 7/16/2024 8/5/2024 9/9/2024 10/8/2024 11/3/2024 12/4/2024
Lowest Demand Amount 7.13 6.56 6.91 5.22 8.84 10.59 10.09 11.51 8.66 10.88 6.4 6.36
Lowest Demand Date 1/10/2024 2/14/2024 3/10/2024 4/22/2024 5/24/2024 6/10/2024 7/4/2024 8/15/2024 9/21/2024 10/17/2024 11/5/2024 12/4/2024

* Average demand is based on average water purchases for the month
** MGD – Million gallons per day

Department Highlights

APWA Accreditation
APWA Accreditation

Lee’s Summit Water Utilities recently received full accreditation from the American Public Works Association. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that Water Utilities complies with the recommended management practices set forth by the American Public Works Association.

APWA Accreditation

Water Conservation
Water Conservation

Did you know that residential outdoor water use for landscape irrigation across the US accounts for nearly 8 billion gallons of water each day? Lee’s Summit Water Utilities recently partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adopt new construction codes that require all new irrigation controllers installed to be EPA WaterSense certified. This change encourages customers to adopt water-saving habits and install water-saving irrigation systems in their homes.

EPA WaterSense Program

Protecting Our Water System

Since 2018, Lee’s Summit Water Utilities has been working proactively to protect your water service through a specialized program called the Pipelines Condition Assessment and Management Program (PCAMP). This effort focuses on identifying and inspecting the water pipelines that, if they fail, would have the greatest impact on our community. By analyzing factors like pipe size, material, location, repair difficulty and the number of customers affected, we’ve targeted the most critical parts of our system. So far, we’ve assessed many of these high-risk pipelines to ensure the continued safe delivery of water to homes and businesses across Lee’s Summit. We’ve also created a risk-based scoring system that helps us prioritize pipeline improvements as part of our Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) each year. This allows us to use resources wisely, address issues before they become emergencies, and keep your water system strong for the future

Capital Investment Projects

Water Utilities invested $19.4 million on design and construction projects in 2024.

Manhole Rehab Projects
2025 – 2026

The rehabilitation of 81 manholes installed in the 1960s, including full replacement, lining, and frame and cover replacements to reduce inflow and infiltration.

Water Main Cathodic Protection
Summer 2024 – Winter 2025

To safeguard the water supply and extend the life of the City’s pipes, a corrosion protection system is being installed on a section of the water system that is showing signs of wear. This system uses special anodes to slow down pipe deterioration.

Water Main Rehabilitation
Spring 2024 – Summer 2025

Water Utilities is proactively upgrading water mains throughout the City, which have a history of breaks, to ensure reliable water delivery and minimize disruptions for residents and businesses.

West Prairie Lee Interceptor Improvements
2025 - 2026

This project consists of improvements to the West Prairie Lee Interceptor to address existing and future capacity constraints. The project will upsize 4,600 linear feet of sewer to 15-inch through 21-inch diameter pipe.

 

Terms, Abbreviations and Symbols

Population: 106.031. This is the equivalent residential population served including non-bill paying customers.

90th Percentile: For lead and copper testing. 10% of test results are above this level and 90% are below.

AL: Action level or the concentration of a contaminant which when exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.

HAA5: Haloacetic Acids (mono-, di- and tri-chloroacetic acid and mono- and di- bromoacetic acid) as a group.

LRAA: Locational Running Annual Average or the locational average of sample analytical results for samples taken during the previous four calendar quarters.

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there are no known or expected health risks. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level or the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment. 

N/A: Not Applicable. 

ND: Not Detectable at testing limits. 

NTU: Nephelometric Turbidity Unit used to measure cloudiness in drinking water. 

PPB: Parts per Billion or micrograms per liter. 

PPM: Parts per Million or milligrams per liter. 

RAA: Running Annual Average or the average of sample analytical results for samples taken during the previous four calendar quarters. 

Range of Results: Shows the lowest and highest levels found during a testing period. If only one sample was taken, this number equals the Highest Test Result or Highest Value. 

SMCL: Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level or the secondary standards that are non-enforceable guidelines for contaminants, may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor or color) in drinking water. EPA recommends these standards but does not require water systems to comply. 

TT: Treatment Technique or a required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water. 

TTHM: Total Trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform) as a group.  

 

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