堪薩斯地域化學調查發現，9個堪薩斯社區的供水系統的放射性元素鈾含量超過聯邦標準，參與的地域化學家懷特默(Don Whittemore)表示，這些社區必須提出降低鈾含量的方法。
解決方式包括開鑿新井、從其他供水處買水、安裝逆滲透等水處理系統。
2003年，美國環保署(EPA)設定飲水中鈾含量不得超過30ppb，要求公用飲水供應商在2007年底前完成監測，但並非堪薩斯所有社區都達到這個標準。
懷特默表示：「很可能是科羅拉多東部農業灌溉活動，導致堪薩斯西南方的阿肯薩斯河含有超過環保署標準的鈾。」
他繼續解釋︰「白堊紀頁岩的鈾溶於河水中，會自然產生低劑量的鈾，一旦河水蒸發和蒸散，就會導致鈾濃度上升。」
科羅拉多的河道和淺地下蓄水層被開發為灌溉渠道、農田和集水區，高度暴露於空氣中造成高蒸發和蒸散率、水位降低、和河水在進入堪薩斯前，許多化學成份（包括鈾）濃度上升。
懷特默說：「當這些含有較高濃度鈾的河水進入天然含有鈾的奧加拉拉蓄水層，地下水的鈾含量很容易就衝過標準值。」
包括奧加拉拉的高地蓄水層（High Plains aquifer)供應西堪薩斯大部分的飲用水。
沿著阿肯薩斯河的城市—包括花園市和道奇市—已經有解決方案，並將鈾含量降到環保署標準內。
仍有9個社區和水區的供水處不符合環保署標準，分別是Atwood, 克萊縣(Clay Center), Gaylord, Morganville, Norton, 歐柏林(Oberlin), 萊金(Lakin), 魯克斯縣郊區第一水區(Rooks Couty Rural Water District 1)和花園市一個轄區。這份調查尚未開始監測私人用井。
懷特默說：「鈾和其他化學元素汞或砷一樣，長期服用會造成毒性。」
堪薩斯州其他區域也發生類似阿肯薩斯河谷的現象，6千5百萬到1億4千2百萬年前的白堊紀頁岩，被雨水沖刷而將鈾溶入地下水層。
堪薩斯州的環保局水管理處負責管理公用飲水供給系統，並沿用環保署(EPA)的飲用水標準。
環保署也為硫化物和氯化物訂立次級非強制標準，這些常見於阿肯薩斯河域的非毒性溶解鹽類和礦物質並不具有健康威脅，但會影響水質，包括味道、氣味和顏色。
The radioactive element uranium has been found above federal limits in the drinking water supplies of nine Kansas communities, says Don Whittemore, a geochemist with the Kansas Geological Survey. Now these communities must devise solutions to bring down the uranium levels.
Possible solutions include relocating wells, buying water from other suppliers, or installing a treatment system, such as reverse osmosis.
In 2003 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set a drinking water standard for uranium at a maximum contamination level of 30 parts per billion and gave public water providers until December 2007 to complete monitoring. Not all Kansas communities were able to meet the standard.
"The Arkansas River corridor in southwestern Kansas is especially susceptible to levels of uranium above EPA standards due to water-consuming agricultural practices in eastern Colorado," said Whittemore.
"Low levels of naturally occurring uranium picked up by the river from Cretaceous shales in Colorado are increased as water is lost to evaporation and transpiration," he explained."Low levels of naturally occurring uranium picked up by the river from Cretaceous shales in Colorado are increased as water is lost to evaporation and transpiration," he explained.
Water from the river and shallow aquifers in Colorado is diverted into irrigation canals, farm fields, and reservoirs, giving it greater exposure to evaporation and transpiration. As a result, flows decline and concentrations of almost all chemical constituents, including uranium, increase before the river enters Kansas.
"When these enriched levels are added to natural uranium already present in groundwater in portions of the Ogallala aquifer in Kansas, it doesn't take much to get above the standard," Whittemore said.
The High Plains aquifer, which includes the Ogallala, is the source of most drinking water in western Kansas.
Some cities along the Arkansas River, including Garden City and Dodge City, have approaches in place to reduce contaminants and they were able to meet EPA standards.
But nine Kansas communities and water districts must now deal with water supplies that consistently registered above federal standards. They are - Atwood, Clay Center, Gaylord, Morganville, Norton, Oberlin, Lakin, Rooks County Rural Water District 1, and a Garden City subdivision. Private wells are not monitored.
"Like mercury and arsenic, uranium can be toxic in high doses over a long period," Whittemore said.
As in the Arkansas River valley, high levels of uranium in other parts of the state are derived from Cretaceous-age shales deposited between 65 and 142 million years ago. The uranium leaches into the groundwater when the subsurface shales are weathered by rainfall recharge.
In Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's Bureau of Water is responsible for regulating all public water supply systems and has adopted the EPA's drinking water standards.
The EPA also recommends secondary, nonbinding, standards for dissolved solids, such as sulfate and chloride. High levels of these nontoxic salts and minerals, common in the Arkansas River system, negatively affect the aesthetic qualities of water, including taste, smell, and color, but are not generally considered to be health hazards.
