Water quality, quantity, and regulations

Drinking water standards, pollution, depletion of aquifers, flood control, water-well drilling methods, and water rights—who gets to use what when and where—are among the numerous issues addressed by government agencies. Various federal, state, and local agencies are responsible for the different aspects of water regulation, planning, research, and education in Kansas. Several non-profit organizations also provide information about water issues in the state.

The Kansas Geological Survey has no regulatory authority but does extensive research concerning water resources, particularly groundwater. As a research and service division of the University of Kansas, it undertakes studies on the analysis of hydrologic basins, the High Plains and Dakota aquifers, recharge, and stream-aquifer interaction. The Survey stores and disseminates information about surface- and groundwater development, including water-well records.