What this tracks
This dataset records hazardous material spills reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), including details like location, materials involved, and cleanup status.
Why it matters to you
If you’re buying property near Topeka or starting an agricultural business in Linn County, this data reveals past contamination risks that could affect soil quality or water sources. Homeowners near creeks can check whether recent spills (like the 12 barrels of crude oil sample) were properly cleaned up before letting kids play in the area. Kansas small businesses handling chemicals can see common spill causes (like “operator error”) to improve their own safety training.
How to read this data
MATERIAL_COMBO — Describes the spilled substance and quantity, like “12 barrels of crude”.
SPILL_STATUS — Shows whether cleanup is complete (“Closed”) or ongoing.
CLEANUP_METHOD — Lists remediation approaches used, such as “burning” in the sample.
DETAIL_REPORT — Links to official documentation (e.g., https://www.reports.esriuk.com/view-report/5bb2bdf281a7426aa9170c5707c12125/KDHE-05603) with spill specifics.
Try it yourself
Search the KDHE map for spills near your address using the latitude/longitude fields (sample: 38.37107, -94.94999) to check for active contamination sites in your neighborhood.