WaterVerge

Is Randolph, NE Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 2 unresolved violations on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

944 residents served 1 water system PWSID: NE3102709
Overall Score
91.9 / 100
Violations
2 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#50 of 200 in Nebraska Top 9% nationally
Local Government
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
91.9/100
waterverge.com
A 91.9/100

Randolph, NE — Water Quality Report

Randolph's drinking water received a grade of A (91.9 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 944 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 2.0 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 12 violations on record, including 9 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Randolph's water

Randolph ranks #50 out of 200 cities in Nebraska for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Randolph relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Randolph may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
91.9 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
41.9/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
8/10
B
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Randolph, NE water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Randolph's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (91.9/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 944 residents using groundwater (wells).

2
Active Violations
2.0 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)
6 events
Disaster History

Recent water quality updates for Randolph

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Randolph's water quality assessment. Grade: A (91.9/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS.

Disaster
SEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-4420). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

1 health-based. Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Disaster
FLOODING

Federal disaster declaration (FEMA DR-3323). Flood event — may have impacted local water infrastructure.

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Randolph's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 2.0 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Randolph's water system has 12 total violations on record, including 9 health-based violations. 2 remain unresolved. 1 violation was issued in the last 5 years.

RPTMCLMR
Most recent violations:
Oct 2024 LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS Open
Nov 2013 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Nov 2011 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Oct 2011 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Aug 2011 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Flood & environmental risk

Cedar County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1967. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm water treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and introduce agricultural runoff, bacteria, and sediment into drinking water supplies.

SEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-4420
FLOODING
Flood FEMA DR-3323
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES
Hurricane FEMA DR-3245

Where does Randolph's water come from?

Randolph's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 944 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Randolph residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Monitor alerts during storms

Randolph's area has a history of flooding. After severe weather, watch for boil water advisories from your local utility.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
2.0 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 13% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

12
Total violations
9
Health-based
2
Active / unresolved
Oct 2024
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

12 Total
2 Active
9 Health-based
10 Resolved
Violations by category
Total Coliform Rule
9
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions
1
Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule
1
Oct 2024 Active
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS
Reporting
Reporting 0
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Nov 2013 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Nov 2013
Nov 2011 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Nov 2011
Oct 2011 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Oct 2011
Aug 2011 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Aug 2011
Jan 2008 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Oct 2010
Oct 2001 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Oct 2001
Aug 2001 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Aug 2001
Jul 2001 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Jul 2001
Oct 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Oct 1998
Sep 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Max Contaminant Level
Health-Based Health Resolved Sep 1998
Environmental Risk

Drought conditions

D3 — extreme drought

Cedar County is currently in D3 (extreme drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of May 5, 2026). Drought can elevate disinfection-byproduct (TTHM/HAA5) levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.

12
Weeks at D2+ (current streak)
14.2%
Months in D2+ (last 30y)
12
Weeks at D2+ (last 5y)

Source: U.S. Drought Monitor, updated weekly by NDMC, USDA, and NOAA.

Environmental Risk

Flood & disaster history

6
Declared disasters
Mar 2019
Most recent
Flood
Most common type

Cedar County has experienced 6 federally declared disasters since 1967. Flooding and severe weather can compromise water treatment infrastructure and introduce contaminants into drinking water supplies.

Mar 2019
SEVERE WINTER STORM, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Flood FEMA #4420
Jun 2011
FLOODING
Flood FEMA #3323
Sep 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES
Hurricane FEMA #3245
Jul 1971
FLOODS
Flood FEMA #308
Feb 1971
FLOODS
Flood FEMA #303
Jul 1967
SEVERE STORMS & FLOODING
Flood FEMA #228

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 2.0 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has increased by 0.9 ppb from 2004 (1.1 ppb) to 2023 (2.0 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Local Government
Population Served
944
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Randolph's water comes from

Groundwater

Randolph's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by local government ownership and serves approximately 944 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Randolph

System Name PWSID Population Source
RANDOLPH, CITY OF NE3102709 944 GW
Regional Comparison

How Randolph compares

Full Nebraska rankings →

Randolph's score of 91.9/100 is above the average of 66/100 among major Nebraska cities. It outscores 10 of 10 nearby cities.

Randolph (this city)
91.9
Omaha
56.5
Lincoln
56.5
Kearney
70
Nebraska avg
66
City Profile

About Randolph, NE

Wikipedia →

Randolph is a city in Cedar County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 881 at the 2020 census. It refers to itself as "The Honey Capital of the Nation" due to the per-capita number of bee keeping families.

Economic Profile
$73,250
Median Income
$135,064
Median Home Value
$683/mo
Median Rent
0.8%
Unemployment
Community
37.7
Median Age
382
People / sq mi
28.2%
College Educated
71.2%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Randolph, NE tap water safe to drink?

Randolph's water quality earned a grade of A (91.9/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #50 out of 200 cities tested in Nebraska.

What contaminants are in Randolph's water?

Lead was measured at 2.0 ppb (90th percentile). 12 violations are on record.

How is Randolph'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 Randolph?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Randolph's water come from?

Randolph's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 944 residents.

What health violations has Randolph's water system had?

Randolph has 9 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in October 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 2 violations remain unresolved.

Is Randolph's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Randolph uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 12 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Randolph's water compare to other cities?

Randolph ranks #50 out of 200 cities in Nebraska (better than 75% of state cities) and #1458 out of 15744 cities nationally (91th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Randolph's small water system affect quality?

Randolph's system serves approximately 944 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 12 violations on record.