01The verdict: is Fort Calhoun water safe?
Based on EPA testing data, Fort Calhoun's tap water is generally safe to drink. The water system earned a grade of A+ (95.6/100), meeting federal drinking water standards across key contaminant categories. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,010 residents using surface water (rivers, lakes, or reservoirs).
Nothing over a legal limit
Every contaminant measured in Fort Calhoun'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 ↓A flood-prone service area
7 federal disaster declarations on record. After severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories.
See the risk factors ↓Fort Calhoun's drinking water received a grade of A+ (95.6 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 1,010 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 4 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.
Fort Calhoun ranks #11 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, Fort Calhoun may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.
02What's in Fort Calhoun's water
Every contaminant flagged in Fort Calhoun, 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
03Fort Calhoun'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 4 violations on record, including 2 health-based violations. All violations have been resolved.
All ten of the last ten years were clean — no EPA violations recorded for Fort Calhoun.
▼ Down 0 ppb since 2001. Latest reading: 0 ppb (2025) — 0% of the action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Fort Calhoun's water comes from
Fort Calhoun'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.
1 system
1 water system, operated under local government ownership.
1,010 people
Residents served across Fort Calhoun'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 1,010 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| FORT CALHOUN, CITY OF | NE3117907 | 1,010 | Purchased Surface Water |
Water bodies near Fort Calhoun
As a surface-water system, these water bodies may directly influence Fort Calhoun's drinking water supply.
05Pressure on Fort Calhoun'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 174k 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
7 federal disaster declarations on record for Washington County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
Drought
Washington County is in D1 (moderate drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Fort Calhoun compares
Scores for nearby Nebraska cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Nebraska average (66/100)
Fort Calhoun scores 95.6/100 — 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 Fort Calhoun's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Fort Calhoun'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 Fort Calhoun 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 Fort Calhoun, NE tap water safe to drink?
Fort Calhoun's water quality earned a grade of A+ (95.6/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #11 out of 196 cities tested in Nebraska.
What contaminants are in Fort Calhoun's water?
Lead was measured at 0.0 ppb (90th percentile). 4 violations are on record.
How is Fort Calhoun'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 Fort Calhoun?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Fort Calhoun's water come from?
Fort Calhoun's water is sourced from Purchased surface water. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 1,010 residents.
What health violations has Fort Calhoun's water system had?
Fort Calhoun has 2 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2012. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. All health violations have been resolved.
How does Fort Calhoun's water compare to other cities?
Fort Calhoun ranks #11 out of 196 cities in Nebraska (better than 94% of state cities) and #296 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.
Does Fort Calhoun's small water system affect quality?
Fort Calhoun's system serves approximately 1,010 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 4 violations on record.