01The verdict: is Bellevue water safe?
Based on EPA testing data, Bellevue's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A+ (95.3/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 740 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Nothing over a legal limit
Every contaminant measured in Bellevue's water is within its EPA limit, and no violations are unresolved.
See the testing ↓Lead is well under the limit
90th-percentile lead is 0.0 ppb — beneath the 15 ppb federal action level and under the 5 ppb watch threshold.
See the trend ↓1 violation in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Bellevue's drinking water received a grade of A+ (95.3 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 3 water systems serve approximately 740 residents using purchased surface water.
Lead levels were measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.
Bellevue ranks #13 out of 196 cities in Nebraska for water quality, placing it one of the best in the state. The city draws from surface water sources, which are more susceptible to seasonal runoff and agricultural contamination, requiring extensive multi-barrier treatment including coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. As a small community water system, Bellevue may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Bellevue's water
Every contaminant flagged in Bellevue, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead (90th percentile) LeadHeavy Metal A toxic heavy metal that can leach into drinking water from older pipes, solder, and fixtures. No amount of lead in water is considered safe. Health EffectsBrain and nervous system damage in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure, and reproductive problems in adults. EPA Limit15 ppb action level Common SourcesCorrosion of lead pipes, lead solder, brass faucets, and household plumbing. | 0.0 | 15 | ppb | Inorganic | Safe |
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Nebraska
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Nebraska
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Bellevue's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 1 violation on record, including 0 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.
9 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
▲ Up 1.6 ppb since 2020. Latest reading: 2.2 ppb (2025) — 15% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Bellevue's water comes from
Bellevue's drinking water comes primarily from surface water sources such as rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Purchased Surface Water
Rivers, lakes, or reservoirs — more exposed to runoff, agriculture, and seasonal swings than groundwater.
Wholesale supplier
Multi-barrier treatment: coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA standards.
3 systems
3 water systems, operated under local government ownership.
740 people
Residents served across Bellevue's service area.
Surface water systems require multi-stage treatment including coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection to meet EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards. These sources can be impacted by seasonal changes, stormwater runoff, upstream agriculture, and industrial discharge. The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 740 people through 3 water systems.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BELLEVUE TERRACE MHC LLC | NE3121486 | 357 | Purchased Surface Water |
| WASHINGTON TERRACE LLC | NE3121518 | 223 | Purchased Surface Water |
| WOODLAND VALLEY MHC LLC | NE3121480 | 160 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Bellevue
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Bellevue's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Bellevue's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Industrial discharge
5 facilities within 10 miles reported 3k lb released to surface water in the latest EPA Toxics Release Inventory. Proximity doesn't equal tap contamination — treatment and hydrology decide — but it's pressure on the watershed.
Flood & storm history
9 federal disaster declarations on record for Sarpy County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Superfund proximity
2 National Priorities List sites within 10 miles. Proximity does not necessarily indicate tap-water contamination — the connection depends on hydrology and treatment.
06How Bellevue compares
Scores for nearby Nebraska cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Nebraska average (66/100)
Bellevue scores 95.3/100 — above the Nebraska average of 66/100. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities. Full Nebraska rankings →
56.5 / 100CLincoln, NE
56.5 / 100BGrand Island, NE
78.6 / 100CPapillion, NE
68 / 100CKearney, NE
70 / 100CFremont, NE
67 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Bellevue's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Bellevue's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Bellevue alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Bellevue, NE tap water safe to drink?
Bellevue's water quality earned a grade of A+ (95.3/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #13 out of 196 cities tested in Nebraska.
What contaminants are in Bellevue's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 1 violation is on record.
How is Bellevue's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Bellevue?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Bellevue's water come from?
Bellevue's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 3 water systems serving approximately 740 residents.
How does Bellevue's water compare to other cities?
Bellevue ranks #13 out of 196 cities in Nebraska (better than 93% of state cities) and #330 out of 15382 cities nationally (98th percentile). The grade of A+ reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.