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Nebraska Water Quality Report

196 cities tested · Average grade: A- · 1.6M people served

Cities Tested
196
Avg Score
85.8
Population Served
1.6M
Avg Grade
A-
Live Water Alerts for Nebraska →
Analysis

Nebraska water quality overview

Nebraska's drinking water quality is excellent overall, with an average score of 85.8 out of 100 across 196 cities tested. The median score is 87.8, serving a total population of 1,627,870 residents. 92% of cities earned an A or B grade, indicating broadly strong water quality infrastructure across the state. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in 47 of 196 cities tested (24%). 4 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. 4 cities have lead levels exceeding the EPA action level of 15 ppb, often indicating aging infrastructure with lead service lines or lead solder. The state relies on a mix of water sources: 186 cities use groundwater while 8 draw from surface water such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Key Concerns

Issues to watch in Nebraska

47 cities
PFAS Detected
24% of tested cities have PFAS in their water supply.
4 cities
Lead Exceedances
Lead levels above the EPA action level of 15 ppb (90th percentile).
191 cities
Health Violations
4,504 total violations recorded, 168 with unresolved issues.
1 cities
Failing Systems
Received a grade of F, indicating serious water quality issues.
Contaminant Data

Explore contaminants in Nebraska

Lead in Nebraska → Ranked by 90th percentile level (ppb) PFAS in Nebraska → Ranked by compounds detected Copper in Nebraska → Ranked by 90th percentile level (mg/L)

More contaminants tested in Nebraska

HAA5 → Chromium-6 → Arsenic → Nitrate → Strontium → 1,4-Dioxane → Manganese → Vanadium → Chlorate → Molybdenum → Cobalt → Lithium → NDMA → Perchlorate →
State context
18
Superfund sites in Nebraska
EPA National Priorities List
73.8%
of Nebraska residents on fluoridated water
CDC, 2020
5,678,017
lbs released to surface water
Top 10 TRI facilities, 2023
7.5%
of Nebraska domestic wells exceed EPA arsenic limit
USGS, 1,241 samples · 10 µg/L MCL
Domestic well chemistry

Private-well water in Nebraska

Based on USGS Powell Domestic-Well Database — 2,679 private wells sampled across Nebraska. These wells are not regulated by the EPA; if you draw your tap from a private well, the public-system grade above does not apply to you.

4.0 µg/L
Median arsenic in domestic wells
P90 9.0 µg/L · max 72.7 µg/L
202 µg/L
Median manganese in domestic wells
40.3% exceed 300 µg/L aesthetic limit
Industrial pollution

Top industrial water polluters in Nebraska

Industrial polluters nearby

The 10 facilities reporting the most pounds released to surface water in Nebraska, 2023.

Total reported releases to surface water: 5,678,017 lbs

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)
TYSON FRESH MEATS INC
Food · TYSON FOODS INC
LEXINGTON, NE68850
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)2,003,672
SMITHFIELD FRESH MEATS CORP-CRETE
Food · UNITED GLOBAL FOODS US HOLDINGS INC
CRETE, NE68333
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)1,965,936
CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS CORP
Food · CARGILL INC
SCHUYLER, NE68661
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)1,284,857
CARGILL CORN MILLING NORTH AMERICA
Food · CARGILL INC
BLAIR, NE680082649
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)174,400
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Food · DARLING INGREDIENTS INC
WAHOO, NE68066
Nitrate compounds (water dissociable; reportable only when in aqueous solution)144,576

+ 5 more facilities

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Test your own tap

Get your Nebraska water tested

City-level data shows the source and infrastructure picture — but lead and other home-plumbing issues only show up at your tap. Find a state-certified lab, see what to test for, and what it costs.
Grade Distribution

How Nebraska cities scored

A: 134 B: 47 C: 12 D: 2 F: 1

Best Cities

  1. A+ Kimball 97
  2. A+ David City 96.9
  3. A+ Geneva 96.8

Worst Cities

  1. F Columbus 41
  2. D+ Chadron 50.5
  3. D+ Wisner 51
City Map

Water quality across Nebraska

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

All Cities

196 cities in Nebraska

Full rankings →
# City Grade Score Population Violations
1 Kimball A+
97
3K 0
2 David City A+
96.9
3K 1
3 Geneva A+
96.8
2K 2
4 St Paul A+
96.6
2K 3
5 Madison A+
96.6
2K 3
6 Grant A+
96.5
1K 5
7 Crete A+
96.2
8K 5
8 Utica A+
96.1
840 4
9 Burwell A+
95.9
1K 8
10 Yutan A+
95.8
1K 8
11 Fort Calhoun A+
95.6
1K 4
12 Imperial A+
95.3
2K 6
13 Bellevue A+
95.3
740 1
14 Overton A+
95.3
600 15
15 Cozad A+
95.1
4K 6
16 Gordon A
94.7
2K 9
17 Callaway A
94.6
563 16
18 Homer A
94.6
532 11
19 Pawnee City (Rr Name Pawnee) A
94.4
830 4
20 Ogallala A
94.2
5K 23
21 Broken Bow A
94.2
4K 7
22 Hartington A
94.2
1K 9
23 Elm Creek A
94.2
901 5
24 Ainsworth A
94.1
2K 20
25 Blue Hill A
94.1
941 5
26 Alma A
94
1K 15
27 Elgin A
93.7
717 16
28 Dorchester A
93.7
586 15
29 Clay Center A
93.5
730 10
30 Franklin A
93.4
950 11
31 Oxford A
93.4
719 10
32 Shelby A
93.3
714 11
33 Tekamah A
93.2
2K 11
34 Cairo A
93.2
785 13
35 Chappell A
93.1
891 13
36 Loup City A
93
1K 13
37 Bertrand A
93
750 14
38 Weeping Water A
92.6
1K 8
39 Hemingford A
92.6
810 15
40 Harvard A
92.5
1K 5
41 Oshkosh A
92.5
809 11
42 Neligh A
92.2
2K 19
43 Ravenna A
92.2
1K 13
44 Arnold A
92.2
592 5
45 Pawnee City A
92.1
2K 5
46 Atkinson A
92.1
1K 19
47 Verdigre A
92.1
552 14
48 Alliance A
92
8K 25
49 Morrill A
92
934 34
50 Randolph A
91.9
944 12
51 Hickman A
91.8
3K 31
52 Red Cloud A
91.7
1K 8
53 Ord A
91.5
2K 3
54 Syracuse A
91.4
5K 11
55 Murray A
91.3
3K 4
56 Clarkson A
91.3
641 16
57 Wausa A
91.2
592 5
58 Sidney A
91
7K 36
59 Cortland A
91
529 20
60 Sutherland A
90.9
1K 8
61 Battle Creek A
90.9
1K 15
62 Holdrege A
90.8
6K 17
63 Valentine A
90.8
3K 3
64 Culbertson A
90.8
534 16
65 Arlington A
90.5
1K 3
66 Superior A
90.3
2K 5
67 Falls City A
90.2
5K 9
68 Springfield A
90.1
2K 20
69 Bassett A
90.1
700 11
70 Hershey A-
89.9
665 2
71 Dakota City A-
89.8
2K 2
72 Hebron A-
89.7
2K 8
73 Pierce A-
89.6
2K 7
74 Deshler A-
89.4
747 11
75 Mead A-
89.4
569 10
76 Minden A-
89.2
3K 6
77 Creighton A-
89.2
1K 12
78 Nebraska City A-
89.2
714 10
79 Kenesaw A-
89.1
919 13
80 St. Edward A-
89.1
710 10
81 Tilden A-
89
957 14
82 Dodge A-
89
612 13
83 Central City A-
88.9
3K 13
84 Wood River A-
88.9
1K 7
85 Newman Grove A-
88.9
721 14
86 Bloomfield A-
88.8
1K 8
87 Gothenburg A-
88.7
4K 3
88 Indianola A-
88.7
584 35
89 Coleridge A-
88.7
533 13
90 Rushville A-
88.6
888 18
91 Crawford A-
88.5
840 21
92 Valley A-
88.3
3K 8
93 Bayard A-
88.3
1K 59
94 Shelton A-
88.3
1K 12
95 Hooper A-
88.3
852 21
96 Laurel A-
88.2
972 27
97 De Witt A-
88.1
598 11
98 Exeter A-
88.1
591 4
99 Genoa A-
87.8
898 9
100 Doniphan A-
87.8
829 7
101 Schuyler A-
87.7
7K 21
102 Aurora A-
87.7
5K 8
103 Cedar Bluffs A-
87.7
600 13
104 Sargent A-
87.7
550 23
105 Sutton A-
87.6
1K 10
106 Bennet (Bennett) A-
87.5
7K 19
107 Spencer A-
87.4
840 46
108 Wymore A-
87.3
2K 22
109 Terrytown A-
87.3
1K 19
110 North Bend A-
87
1K 6
111 Lyons A-
87
824 7
112 Wilber A-
86.9
2K 6
113 Fairmont A-
86.7
600 9
114 Beatrice A-
86.5
12K 19
115 Wayne A-
86.5
6K 20
116 Auburn A-
86.5
4K 26
117 O'Neill A-
86.5
4K 34
118 Minatare A-
86.4
809 44
119 Bridgeport A-
86.2
2K 33
120 Cambridge A-
86.2
1K 43
121 Friend A-
86.2
964 13
122 Peru A-
86.2
650 9
123 Waverly A-
86.1
4K 12
124 Seward A-
86
8K 27
125 Mitchell A-
85.7
2K 12
126 Arapahoe A-
85.7
1K 19
127 Tecumseh A-
85.6
3K 20
128 Winnebago A-
85.6
1K 52
129 Eagle A-
85.5
1K 17
130 Scottsbluff A-
85.3
14K 31
131 Fairbury A-
85.2
5K 8
132 Greenwood A-
85.1
600 19
133 Valparaiso A-
85.1
600 4
134 West Point A-
85
4K 7
135 Wahoo B+
84.8
5K 18
136 Wauneta B+
84.7
549 36
137 Curtis B+
84.6
806 6
138 Oakland B+
84.5
5K 7
139 Osmond B+
84.5
870 38
140 Scribner B+
84.5
857 2
141 Howells B+
84.5
567 28
142 Fullerton B+
84.4
1K 15
143 Palmyra B+
84.4
567 13
144 Trenton B+
84.2
501 17
145 Beemer B+
84.1
3K 32
146 Henderson B+
84.1
1K 38
147 Adams B+
84.1
606 161
148 Axtell B+
83.9
880 35
149 Benkelman B+
83.8
850 70
150 Hay Springs B+
83.8
614 9
151 Stanton B+
83.4
2K 23
152 Osceola B+
83.3
875 4
153 Juniata B+
82.9
757 7
154 Wakefield B+
82.8
1K 13
155 Gering B+
82.5
9K 45
156 Beaver City B+
81.7
604 4
157 Albion B+
81.2
2K 30
158 South Sioux City B+
81
14K 11
159 Elmwood B+
81
698 7
160 Waterloo B+
80.6
962 8
161 Union B+
80.6
616 48
162 Norfolk B+
80.1
29K 24
163 Stromsburg B
79.5
1K 9
164 Kennard B
79.4
1K 24
165 Alda B
79.1
677 60
166 Louisville B
78.7
1K 6
167 Grand Island B
78.6
51K 7
168 Plattsmouth B
78.5
11K 12
169 Humphrey B
77.4
842 63
170 Ceresco B
77.3
919 4
171 Milford B
77.1
2K 62
172 Gibbon B
76.6
2K 25
173 Elwood B
76.5
730 63
174 Ashland B
76.3
3K 32
175 Mccook B-
74.8
7K 36
176 Humboldt B-
74.7
2K 136
177 Hastings B-
73.8
25K 21
178 Firth B-
73.3
680 51
179 Macy B-
71.1
2K 63
180 Lexington B-
70.2
10K 57
181 Crofton B-
70.2
754 61
182 Kearney C+
70
35K 94
183 Blair C+
69.8
12K 95
184 Gretna C+
68.2
9K 52
185 Papillion C+
68
35K 26
186 North Platte C+
67.9
25K 70
187 Fremont C+
67
29K 102
188 Ponca C+
65.4
972 52
189 Plainview C
64.4
1K 28
190 Niobrara C
60.2
995 55
191 York C-
59
9K 121
192 Omaha C-
56.5
663K 66
193 Lincoln C-
56.5
298K 121
194 Wisner D+
51
1K 48
195 Chadron D+
50.5
7K 52
196 Columbus F
41
24K 137
Counties

Browse Nebraska counties

Adams 3 cities · avg 81.9 Antelope 2 cities · avg 93 Boone 2 cities · avg 85.2 Box Butte 2 cities · avg 92.3 Boyd 1 city · avg 87.4 Brown 1 city · avg 94.1 Buffalo 5 cities · avg 84.3 Burt 3 cities · avg 88.2 Butler 1 city · avg 96.9 Cass 8 cities · avg 84.2 Cedar 5 cities · avg 86.6 Chase 2 cities · avg 90 Cherry 1 city · avg 90.8 Cheyenne 1 city · avg 91 Clay 3 cities · avg 91.2 Colfax 3 cities · avg 87.8 Cuming 3 cities · avg 73.4 Custer 4 cities · avg 92.2 Dakota 3 cities · avg 88.5 Dawes 2 cities · avg 69.5 Dawson 4 cities · avg 87.3 Deuel 1 city · avg 93.1 Dixon 2 cities · avg 74.1 Dodge 5 cities · avg 83.2 Douglas 3 cities · avg 75.1 Dundy 1 city · avg 83.8 Fillmore 3 cities · avg 90.5 Franklin 1 city · avg 93.4 Frontier 1 city · avg 84.6 Furnas 4 cities · avg 86.8 Gage 4 cities · avg 87.2 Garden 1 city · avg 92.5 Garfield 1 city · avg 95.9 Gosper 1 city · avg 76.5 Hall 5 cities · avg 85.5 Hamilton 1 city · avg 87.7 Harlan 1 city · avg 94 Hitchcock 2 cities · avg 87.5 Holt 2 cities · avg 89.3 Howard 1 city · avg 96.6 Jefferson 1 city · avg 85.2 Johnson 1 city · avg 85.6 Kearney 2 cities · avg 86.6 Keith 1 city · avg 94.2 Kimball 1 city · avg 97 Knox 5 cities · avg 84.3 Lancaster 5 cities · avg 79 Lincoln 3 cities · avg 82.9 Madison 5 cities · avg 89.1 Merrick 1 city · avg 88.9 Morrill 2 cities · avg 87.3 Nance 2 cities · avg 86.1 Nemaha 2 cities · avg 86.3 Nuckolls 1 city · avg 90.3 Otoe 3 cities · avg 88.3 Pawnee 2 cities · avg 93.3 Perkins 1 city · avg 96.5 Phelps 2 cities · avg 91.9 Pierce 3 cities · avg 79.5 Platte 2 cities · avg 59.2 Polk 3 cities · avg 85.4 Red Willow 2 cities · avg 81.8 Richardson 2 cities · avg 82.5 Rock 1 city · avg 90.1 Saline 5 cities · avg 90.2 Sarpy 4 cities · avg 80.4 Saunders 7 cities · avg 85.2 Scotts Bluff 6 cities · avg 86.5 Seward 3 cities · avg 86.4 Sheridan 3 cities · avg 89 Sherman 1 city · avg 93 Stanton 1 city · avg 83.4 Thayer 2 cities · avg 89.6 Valley 1 city · avg 91.5 Washington 4 cities · avg 83.8 Wayne 1 city · avg 86.5 Webster 2 cities · avg 92.9 York 2 cities · avg 71.5
ZIP Codes

Browse Nebraska by ZIP code

Look up water quality by ZIP code to find the systems serving your area.

View all Nebraska ZIP codes →
FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Nebraska's water

Is Nebraska's tap water safe to drink?

Nebraska's water quality varies by city. The statewide average grade is A- (85.8/100). 92% of cities scored an A or B, while 2% received a D or F. Check your specific city for detailed results.

Which Nebraska cities have the best water quality?

The top-rated cities are Kimball (A+), David City (A+), Geneva (A+). These cities scored highest based on violation history, lead levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Which Nebraska cities have the worst water quality?

The lowest-rated cities are Columbus (F), Chadron (D+), Wisner (D+). We recommend residents in these areas consider water filtration and review their city's specific contaminant data.

How many Nebraska cities have PFAS in their water?

47 out of 196 cities tested positive for PFAS "forever chemicals" (24%). 4 cities exceed the 2024 EPA maximum contaminant levels. Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can help reduce PFAS exposure.

Do any Nebraska cities have dangerous lead levels?

4 cities exceed the EPA lead action level of 15 ppb. Lead contamination typically comes from aging pipes and lead service lines rather than the water source itself. An NSF 53-certified filter can effectively remove lead from tap water.

Water quality resources

Guide
How to Read Your Water Quality Report
Read guide →
Guide
Lead in Drinking Water
Read guide →
Guide
PFAS Forever Chemicals Explained
Read guide →
News
Latest Water Quality News
View all →
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