Nebraska Water Quality Report 2026
Nebraska tap water is safe — softener may help based on our analysis of 4 water systems serving 878,226 residents. The average PurityMap score is 74.0/100 (Grade: C), which is 3.9 points below the national average.
- 4 cities (100%) have hard or very hard water (7+ GPG) which causes scale buildup and appliance damage.
- 2 cities exceed the EPA secondary TDS guideline of 500 ppm, which affects taste and may indicate elevated minerals.
- 4 cities use chloramine or have elevated chlorine residuals. Standard Brita pitchers do not remove chloramine.
A whole-house water softener paired with an under-sink carbon filter addresses Nebraska's main concerns: hardness and chlorine taste. For extra protection, consider reverse osmosis for drinking water.
Very Hard
Nebraska is 3.9 points below the US average of 77.9/100. Hardness is 8.4 GPG above the US average of 6.3 GPG.
Cities ranked by lowest score. Click any city for the full report and filter recommendations.
| Rank | City | Score | Hardness | Lead | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln | 73/100 | 16.8 GPG | 2.8 ppb | Very Hard (16.8 GPG), TDS (590 ppm) |
| 2 | Grand Island | 73/100 | 15.0 GPG | 2.5 ppb | Very Hard (15.0 GPG), TDS (530 ppm) |
| 3 | Omaha | 75/100 | 13.5 GPG | 3.5 ppb | Very Hard (13.5 GPG) |
| 4 | Bellevue | 75/100 | 13.5 GPG | 3.2 ppb | Very Hard (13.5 GPG) |
How Nebraska's 4 cities score on the PurityMap 0–100 scale:
Water quality for the most populated cities. Click any city for details.
| City | Population | Score | Hardness | Key Issues |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 468K | 75/100 | 13.5 GPG | Very Hard |
| Lincoln | 293K | 73/100 | 16.8 GPG | Very Hard |
| Bellevue | 64K | 75/100 | 13.5 GPG | Very Hard |
| Grand Island | 53K | 73/100 | 15.0 GPG | Very Hard |
4 of 4 cities (100%) in Nebraska have hard or very hard water (7+ GPG). Lincoln has the hardest at 16.8 GPG. Cities: Lincoln, Grand Island, Omaha, Bellevue. A water softener is recommended.
Based on EPA UCMR5 data, PFAS have not been detected above advisory levels in any Nebraska cities in our database as of 2026.
All Nebraska cities have lead below 5 ppb. Average: 3.0 ppb. Individual homes with older plumbing may have higher levels.
2 cities in Nebraska have TDS above 500 ppm. Cities: Lincoln, Grand Island. RO effectively reduces TDS.
Where Nebraska gets its drinking water, based on 4 water systems.
| Source Type | Cities | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed (Ground + Surface) | 4 | 100% |
Nebraska is a hard water state (4/4 cities). A whole-house softener is the best investment.
| # | City | Pop. | Score | Hardness | Lead | PFAS | TDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln | 293K | 73/100 | 16.8 GPG (Very Hard) | 2.8 ppb | ✅ No | 590 ppm |
| 2 | Grand Island | 53K | 73/100 | 15.0 GPG (Very Hard) | 2.5 ppb | ✅ No | 530 ppm |
| 3 | Omaha | 468K | 75/100 | 13.5 GPG (Very Hard) | 3.5 ppb | ✅ No | 475 ppm |
| 4 | Bellevue | 64K | 75/100 | 13.5 GPG (Very Hard) | 3.2 ppb | ✅ No | 475 ppm |
Nebraska has 3 utilities. Major: Metropolitan Utilities District, Lincoln Water System, City of Grand Island Utilities.
Sources: Missouri River and groundwater, Groundwater and Salt Creek, Platte River and groundwater.
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System
- EWG Tap Water Database
- State utility Consumer Confidence Reports
- USGS regional water monitoring data
PurityMap compiles publicly available data and does not perform independent testing.
4 city water quality reports available for Nebraska.
Grand Island Water Quality Report
Lincoln Water Quality Report
Omaha Water Quality Report
Compare water quality reports across all 50 US states