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Nebraska Water Quality Rankings

200 cities ranked · Data from EPA SDWIS

85.8
State avg score
200
Cities ranked
93%
A or B grade
2%
D or F grade
195
Health violations
47
PFAS detected
Analysis

Nebraska water quality overview

Nebraska's drinking water quality is excellent overall, with a state average score of 85.8 out of 100 — 11.6 points above the national average of 74.2. The median city score is 87.9, reflecting how water quality is distributed across the state's 200 ranked cities. 93% of Nebraska cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure. Only 1 city received a failing grade. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 47 of 200 cities (24%). Of those, 4 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels — a health concern requiring action. 4 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, typically a sign of aging lead service lines or lead solder in older plumbing. Residents in these areas should use an NSF 53-certified filter. 195 cities have recorded health-based violations with the EPA — meaning contaminant levels exceeded safe limits or required testing was missed. Use the table below to find your city's specific record.

Grade Distribution

How Nebraska cities scored

69%
24%
A
137
69%
Excellent
B
48
24%
Good
C
12
6%
Fair
D
2
1%
Poor
F
1
1%
Failing
Score Distribution

Score distribution by range

95 48 0
1
5
8
20
95
71
0–9
10–19
20–29
30–39
40–49
50–59
60–69
70–79
80–89
90–100
Comparison

State vs national average

A-
Nebraska
85.8/100
B-
National avg
74.2/100
▲ 11.6 pts above national average
City Map

Water quality across Nebraska

Each dot is a city, colored by grade. Size reflects population served. Click any city to view its full report.

Highlights

Top & bottom cities in Nebraska

Best 10 cities

  1. 1 A+ Kimball 97 3K
  2. 2 A+ David City 96.9 3K
  3. 3 A+ Geneva 96.8 2K
  4. 4 A+ St Paul 96.6 2K
  5. 5 A+ Madison 96.6 2K
  6. 6 A+ Grant 96.5 1K
  7. 7 A+ Crete 96.2 8K
  8. 8 A+ Utica 96.1 840
  9. 9 A+ Burwell 95.9 1K
  10. 10 A+ Yutan 95.8 1K

Worst 10 cities

  1. 191 F Columbus 41 24K
  2. 192 D+ Chadron 50.5 7K
  3. 193 D+ Wisner 51 1K
  4. 194 C- Lincoln 56.5 298K
  5. 195 C- Omaha 56.5 664K
  6. 196 C- York 59 9K
  7. 197 C Niobrara 60.2 995
  8. 198 C Plainview 64.4 1K
  9. 199 C+ Ponca 65.4 972
  10. 200 C+ Fremont 67 29K
Full Rankings

All 200 cities in Nebraska

# City Grade Score Score Population Violations Issues
1 Kimball
A+
 97
3K 0 Zero violations
2 David City
A+
 96.9
3K 1
3 Geneva
A+
 96.8
2K 2 Health
4 St Paul
A+
 96.6
2K 3 Health
5 Madison
A+
 96.6
2K 3 Health
6 Grant
A+
 96.5
1K 5 Health
7 Crete
A+
 96.2
8K 5 Health
8 Utica
A+
 96.1
840 4 Health
9 Burwell
A+
 95.9
1K 8 Health
10 Yutan
A+
 95.8
1K 8 Health
11 Fort Calhoun
A+
 95.6
1K 4 Health
12 Imperial
A+
 95.3
2K 6 Health Unresolved
13 Bellevue
A+
 95.3
740 1
14 Overton
A+
 95.3
600 15 Health
15 Cozad
A+
 95.1
4K 6 Health Unresolved
16 Gordon
A
 94.7
2K 9 Health Unresolved
17 Callaway
A
 94.6
563 16 Health
18 Homer
A
 94.6
532 11 Health
19 Pawnee City (Rr Name Pawnee)
A
 94.4
830 4 Health
20 Ogallala
A
 94.2
5K 23 Health Unresolved
21 Broken Bow
A
 94.2
4K 7 Health Unresolved
22 Hartington
A
 94.2
1K 9 Health Unresolved
23 Elm Creek
A
 94.2
901 5 Health Unresolved
24 Ainsworth
A
 94.1
2K 20 Health Unresolved
25 Blue Hill
A
 94.1
941 5 Health Unresolved
26 Alma
A
 94
1K 15 Health Unresolved
27 Elgin
A
 93.7
717 16 Health
28 Dorchester
A
 93.7
586 15 Health
29 Clay Center
A
 93.5
730 10 Health Unresolved
30 Franklin
A
 93.4
950 11 Health
31 Oxford
A
 93.4
719 10 Health Unresolved
32 Shelby
A
 93.3
714 11 Health Unresolved
33 Tekamah
A
 93.2
2K 11 Health Unresolved
34 Cairo
A
 93.2
785 13 Health Unresolved
35 Chappell
A
 93.1
891 13 Health
36 Loup City
A
 93
1K 13 Health Unresolved
37 Bertrand
A
 93
750 14 Health Unresolved
38 Weeping Water
A
 92.6
1K 8 Health Unresolved
39 Hemingford
A
 92.6
810 15 Health Unresolved
40 Harvard
A
 92.5
1K 5 Health
41 Oshkosh
A
 92.5
809 11 Health Unresolved
42 Neligh
A
 92.2
2K 19 Health Unresolved
43 Ravenna
A
 92.2
1K 13 Health Unresolved
44 Arnold
A
 92.2
592 5 Health Unresolved
45 Pawnee City
A
 92.1
2K 5 Health Unresolved
46 Atkinson
A
 92.1
1K 19 Health Unresolved
47 Verdigre
A
 92.1
552 14 Health Unresolved
48 Alliance
A
 92
8K 25 Health Unresolved
49 Morrill
A
 92
2K 34 Health Unresolved
50 Randolph
A
 91.9
944 12 Health Unresolved
51 Hickman
A
 91.8
3K 31 Health Unresolved
52 Red Cloud
A
 91.7
1K 8 Health Unresolved
53 Ord
A
 91.5
2K 3 Health Unresolved
54 Syracuse
A
 91.4
5K 11 Health
55 Murray
A
 91.3
3K 4 Health Unresolved
56 Clarkson
A
 91.3
641 16 Health Unresolved
57 Wausa
A
 91.2
762 5 Health Unresolved
58 Murdock
A
 91.1
2K 23 Health Unresolved
59 Sidney
A
 91
7K 36 Health Unresolved
60 Cortland
A
 91
529 20 Health Unresolved
61 Sutherland
A
 90.9
1K 8 Health Unresolved
62 Battle Creek
A
 90.9
1K 15 Health
63 Holdrege
A
 90.8
6K 17 Health
64 Valentine
A
 90.8
3K 3 Health Unresolved
65 Culbertson
A
 90.8
534 16 Health Unresolved
66 Arlington
A
 90.5
1K 3 Health Unresolved
67 Bartley
A
 90.4
710 23 Health Unresolved
68 Superior
A
 90.3
2K 5 Health
69 Falls City
A
 90.2
5K 9 Health Unresolved
70 Springfield
A
 90.1
2K 20 Health Unresolved
71 Bassett
A
 90.1
700 11 Health Unresolved
72 Hershey
A-
 89.9
665 2 Unresolved
73 Dakota City
A-
 89.8
4K 2 Health Unresolved
74 Hebron
A-
 89.7
2K 8 Health Unresolved
75 Pierce
A-
 89.6
2K 7 Health Unresolved
76 Deshler
A-
 89.4
747 11 Health Unresolved
77 Mead
A-
 89.4
569 10 Health Unresolved
78 Minden
A-
 89.2
3K 6 Health Unresolved
79 Creighton
A-
 89.2
1K 12 Health Unresolved
80 Kenesaw
A-
 89.1
919 13 Health Unresolved
81 St. Edward
A-
 89.1
710 10 Health Unresolved
82 Tilden
A-
 89
957 14 Health Unresolved
83 Dodge
A-
 89
612 13 Health Unresolved
84 Central City
A-
 88.9
3K 13 Health Unresolved
85 Wood River
A-
 88.9
1K 7 Health Unresolved
86 Newman Grove
A-
 88.9
721 14 Health Unresolved
87 Bloomfield
A-
 88.8
1K 8 Health Unresolved
88 Nebraska City
A-
 88.7
8K 10 Health Unresolved
89 Gothenburg
A-
 88.7
4K 3 Health Unresolved
90 Indianola
A-
 88.7
939 35 Health Unresolved
91 Coleridge
A-
 88.7
533 13 Health Unresolved
92 Rushville
A-
 88.6
888 18 Health Unresolved
93 Crawford
A-
 88.5
840 21 Health Unresolved
94 Valley
A-
 88.3
4K 8 Health Unresolved
95 Bayard
A-
 88.3
1K 59 Health Unresolved
96 Shelton
A-
 88.3
1K 12 Health Unresolved
97 Hooper
A-
 88.3
852 21 Health Unresolved
98 Laurel
A-
 88.2
972 27 Health
99 De Witt
A-
 88.1
598 11 Health Unresolved
100 Exeter
A-
 88.1
591 4 Health Unresolved
101 Winnetoon
A-
 87.9
640 12 Health Unresolved
102 Genoa
A-
 87.8
898 9 Health Unresolved
103 Doniphan
A-
 87.8
829 7 Health Unresolved
104 Schuyler
A-
 87.7
7K 21 Health
105 Aurora
A-
 87.7
5K 8 Health Unresolved
106 Cedar Bluffs
A-
 87.7
600 13 Health Unresolved
107 Sargent
A-
 87.7
550 23 Health Unresolved
108 Sutton
A-
 87.6
1K 10 Health Unresolved
109 Bennet (Bennett)
A-
 87.5
7K 19 Health Unresolved
110 Spencer
A-
 87.4
840 46 Health Unresolved
111 Wymore
A-
 87.3
3K 22 Health Unresolved
112 Terrytown
A-
 87.3
1K 19 Health Unresolved
113 North Bend
A-
 87
1K 6 Health Unresolved
114 Lyons
A-
 87
824 7 Health Unresolved
115 Wilber
A-
 86.9
2K 6 Health Unresolved
116 Fairmont
A-
 86.7
600 9 Health Unresolved
117 Beatrice
A-
 86.5
12K 19 Health Unresolved
118 Wayne
A-
 86.5
6K 20 Health Unresolved
119 Auburn
A-
 86.5
5K 26 Health Unresolved
120 O'Neill
A-
 86.5
4K 34 Health Unresolved
121 Minatare
A-
 86.4
809 44 Health Unresolved
122 Bridgeport
A-
 86.2
2K 33 Health Unresolved
123 Cambridge
A-
 86.2
1K 43 Health Unresolved
124 Friend
A-
 86.2
964 13 Health Unresolved
125 Peru
A-
 86.2
650 9 Health Unresolved
126 Waverly
A-
 86.1
4K 12 Health Unresolved
127 Seward
A-
 86
8K 27 Health Unresolved
128 Mitchell
A-
 85.7
2K 12 Health Unresolved
129 Arapahoe
A-
 85.7
1K 19 Health Unresolved
130 Tecumseh
A-
 85.6
3K 20 Health Unresolved
131 Winnebago
A-
 85.6
1K 52 Health Unresolved
132 Eagle
A-
 85.5
1K 17 Health Unresolved
133 Scottsbluff
A-
 85.3
14K 31 Health Unresolved
134 Fairbury
A-
 85.2
5K 8 Health Unresolved
135 Greenwood
A-
 85.1
600 19 Health Unresolved
136 Valparaiso
A-
 85.1
600 4 Health Unresolved
137 West Point
A-
 85
4K 7 Health Unresolved
138 Wahoo
B+
 84.8
5K 18 Health Unresolved
139 Wauneta
B+
 84.7
549 36 Health Unresolved
140 Curtis
B+
 84.6
806 6 Health Unresolved
141 Oakland
B+
 84.5
5K 7 Health Unresolved
142 Osmond
B+
 84.5
870 38 Health Unresolved
143 Scribner
B+
 84.5
857 2 Health Unresolved
144 Howells
B+
 84.5
567 28 Health Unresolved
145 Fullerton
B+
 84.4
1K 15 Health
146 Palmyra
B+
 84.4
567 13 Health Unresolved
147 Trenton
B+
 84.2
501 17 Health Unresolved
148 Beemer
B+
 84.1
3K 32 Health Unresolved
149 Henderson
B+
 84.1
1K 38 Health Unresolved
150 Adams
B+
 84.1
606 161 Health Unresolved
151 Axtell
B+
 83.9
880 35 Health Unresolved
152 Benkelman
B+
 83.8
850 70 Health Unresolved
153 Hay Springs
B+
 83.8
614 9 Health Unresolved
154 Elkhorn
B+
 83.5
750 10 Health Unresolved
155 Stanton
B+
 83.4
2K 23 Health Unresolved
156 Osceola
B+
 83.3
875 4 Health Unresolved
157 Juniata
B+
 82.9
757 7 Health Unresolved
158 Wakefield
B+
 82.8
1K 13 Health Unresolved
159 Gering
B+
 82.5
9K 45 Health Unresolved
160 Beaver City
B+
 81.7
604 4 Health Unresolved
161 Albion
B+
 81.2
2K 30 Health Unresolved
162 South Sioux City
B+
 81
14K 11 Health Unresolved
163 Elmwood
B+
 81
698 7 Health Unresolved
164 Waterloo
B+
 80.6
962 8 Unresolved
165 Union
B+
 80.6
616 48 Health Unresolved
166 Norfolk
B+
 80.1
29K 24 Health Unresolved
167 Stromsburg
B
 79.5
1K 9 Health Unresolved
168 Kennard
B
 79.4
1K 24 Health Unresolved
169 Alda
B
 79.1
737 60 Health Unresolved
170 Louisville
B
 78.7
1K 6 Health Unresolved
171 Grand Island
B
 78.6
51K 7 Health PFAS Unresolved
172 Plattsmouth
B
 78.5
11K 12 Health PFAS Unresolved
173 Humphrey
B
 77.4
842 63 Health Unresolved
174 Ceresco
B
 77.3
919 4 Health Lead Unresolved
175 Milford
B
 77.1
2K 62 Health Unresolved
176 Gibbon
B
 76.6
2K 25 Health Lead Unresolved
177 Elwood
B
 76.5
880 63 Health Unresolved
178 Ashland
B
 76.3
3K 32 Health Unresolved
179 Mccook
B-
 74.8
7K 36 Health Unresolved
180 Humboldt
B-
 74.7
2K 136 Health Unresolved
181 Hastings
B-
 73.8
26K 21 Health PFAS Unresolved
182 Firth
B-
 73.3
680 51 Health Unresolved
183 Macy
B-
 71.1
2K 63 Health Unresolved
184 Lexington
B-
 70.2
11K 57 Health Unresolved
185 Crofton
B-
 70.2
3K 61 Health Unresolved
186 Kearney
C+
 70
35K 94 Health Unresolved
187 Blair
C+
 69.8
14K 95 Health Unresolved
188 Gretna
C+
 68.2
11K 52 Health Unresolved
189 Papillion
C+
 68
35K 26 Health Lead Unresolved
190 North Platte
C+
 67.9
25K 70 Health PFAS Unresolved
191 Fremont
C+
 67
29K 102 Health Unresolved
192 Ponca
C+
 65.4
972 52 Health Unresolved
193 Plainview
C
 64.4
1K 28 Health Unresolved
194 Niobrara
C
 60.2
995 55 Health Lead Unresolved
195 York
C-
 59
9K 121 Health Unresolved
196 Omaha
C-
 56.5
664K 66 Health Unresolved
197 Lincoln
C-
 56.5
298K 121 Health Unresolved
198 Wisner
D+
 51
1K 48 Health Unresolved
199 Chadron
D+
 50.5
7K 52 Health Unresolved
200 Columbus
F
 41
24K 137 Health Unresolved
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