Water Quality: Lincoln, NE
8 water systems • 298,096 people served
Some ConcernsWater Quality Summary
Lincoln is served by 8 public water systems with a combined service population of 298,096 people, and has 19 EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. Critically, 2 of those are health-based violations, meaning one or more contaminants were detected above EPA-established safe levels — a serious public health concern. Lincoln's violation count is 50% above the national average for Nebraska. Contaminants associated with violations include E. coli, Gross Alpha.
Contaminants Found
Causes gastrointestinal illness; certain strains (e.g., O157:H7) can cause severe kidney failure and death.
Common source: Fecal contamination from humans or animals entering the water supply
EPA limit: Zero (no E. coli permitted in drinking water)
Alpha-emitting radioactive particles increase cancer risk, particularly from bone and other internal cancers.
Common source: Natural uranium and radium in geological formations
EPA limit: 15 pCi/L (excluding radon and uranium)
Water Systems Serving Lincoln
| System Name | PWSID | Source | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LINCOLN, CITY OF | NE3110926 | Surface Water | 296,000 | 0 |
| CONTEMPO MHP | NE3121507 | Surface Water | 1,630 | 0 |
| LANCASTER CO SID 6 - VILLAGE OF EMERALD | NE3120757 | Groundwater | 100 | 6 |
| SKY RANCH ACRES | NE3110915 | Groundwater | 95 | 4 |
| BIG SANDY HOME OWNERS ASSOCIATION | NE3121167 | Groundwater | 85 | 1 |
| SOUTHFORK ESTATES | NE3120712 | Groundwater | 80 | 5 |
| CROOKED CREEK HOA | NE3120824 | Groundwater | 64 | 1 |
| COUNTRY ACRES SUBDIVISION | NE3120354 | Groundwater | 42 | 2 |
Concerned About Your Water?
A home water filter can remove common contaminants. NSF-certified filters are tested against EPA standards.
Consider a reverse osmosis system for comprehensive filtration or a carbon filter for basic improvement.
Other Cities in Nebraska
Data Sources
Drinking water violation data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). Data includes all recorded violations for active community water systems.