Loading water data...
1 cities ranked best to worst by EPA-record water quality score
Omaha has the best tap water grade in Nebraska (B, 89/100); Omaha is lowest (B, 89/100). Overall, none of the 1 Nebraska systems we grade has a health-based EPA violation in the last five years, so the state's tap water is safe by EPA compliance records — 100% earn a B or better.
This page ranks the 1 Nebraska cities whose water systems we have matched to EPA records. Every city starts at 100 points and loses points for health-based EPA violations in the last five years (SDWIS 2026Q2), its most recent Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile result, PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2026 UCMR5 monitoring, and 2012–2019 compliance samples that averaged near or above a limit. Letters follow fixed bands (A ≥90, B ≥80, C ≥70, D ≥60, F below 60). Cities run from the highest score (Omaha) down to the lowest (Omaha); ties are ordered by population served. See the full scoring methodology for every deduction and the data vintages.
An A or B grade points to water that consistently tests within federal safety limits, while a C suggests moderate issues worth watching and a D or F flags contaminants or compliance problems serious enough to act on. These grades describe system-level water leaving the treatment plant — they can't account for your home's own plumbing, so older houses with lead service lines or fixtures can add contaminants after the water arrives. For a contaminant-by-contaminant view, see the Nebraska contaminant breakdown or drill into the county-level rankings.
What the EPA service line inventory and our Nebraska guide say, beyond the scores.
This ranking covers 1 Nebraska cities. 1 of them are matched to an active EPA-registered community water system (PWSID). Those 1 systems report serving 660,000 people in EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS).
Only one Nebraska city in our dataset, Omaha, is matched to an EPA water system; it grades B (89/100) on EPA compliance, lead and PFAS records.
None of the graded system has a health-based EPA violation in the last five years; the 1 violation on file in that window is monitoring or reporting lapses.
1 city has a Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile result from 2020 or later: 1 city at 5 ppb or more.
EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring (2023–2026) covers 1 city: no PFAS was detected in any of them.
The clearest hard data for Nebraska is EPA's service line inventory, updated 2026-08-18 (Q2 2026). 717 Nebraska systems inventoried 655,282 service lines: 22,233 confirmed lead plus 26,499 galvanized lines requiring replacement, spread across 122 systems. Another 88,477 lines (14%) are still of unknown material, which EPA counts as possible lead until verified.
Of the 1 city-linked Nebraska utilities with an inventory on file, 1 reports at least one lead or galvanized-requiring-replacement line. The largest, METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT (Omaha, 660,000 served), reports 11,738 lead lines and 333 galvanized requiring replacement.
| Contaminant | Federal limit | Cities elevated | Over limit | Highest reading | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | EPA action level 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb); health goal 0 | 1 | 0 | Omaha | Lead harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure and kidney risk in adults. |
| Total Trihalomethanes | EPA MCL 0.080 mg/L (80 ppb) | 1 | 0 | Omaha | Total Trihalomethanes is associated with liver, kidney and nervous-system effects and increased cancer risk over long exposure. |
Service line counts: EPA SDWIS Service Line Inventory, Q2 2026 snapshot (updated 2026-08-18). Limits: EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.
How Nebraska's 1 cities are distributed by water quality grade
1 out of 1 cities meet or exceed a B grade for water quality
Sorted by water quality score from best to worst. Click any city for a detailed water quality report.
| Rank | City | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha | 89/100 | B |
Sources: EPA SDWIS/ECHO violations and Lead and Copper Rule results (2026Q2 extract), UCMR5 PFAS occurrence (2023–2026), SYR4 compliance samples (2012–2019). Rubric v2 — methodology.
Found your city above? These guides turn its grade into an action plan.
Pitcher vs. under-sink vs. reverse osmosis, matched to the contaminants reported in Nebraska systems.
Taste, odor, trihalomethanes, and why a carbon filter handles them
Where it comes from, how to test, and which filters are NSF 53 certified to remove it
Best filters for lead →EPA's inventory of lead pipes by water system — a risk these plant-level grades cannot capture.
Put a Nebraska city next to where you're moving from (or to) and see every contaminant head to head.
The best water quality in Nebraska is found in Omaha with a score of 89/100 and a grade of B. While this is the highest score in the state, there is room for improvement compared to national leaders.
The most concerning water quality is in Omaha scoring 89/100 with a grade of B. Residents may want to consider home water testing and filtration options.
The statewide average score is 89/100, which is 1 points above the national average of 88/100. A strong majority (100%) of Nebraska cities exceed the national average, indicating generally good water infrastructure across the state.
Nebraska tap water averages 89/100. Even with solid scores, a certified filter removes trace contaminants and improves taste — especially useful for households with young children or anyone sensitive to chlorine or lead.
Best for Multi-Contaminant Removal
APEC Reverse Osmosis System
Removes lead, PFAS, arsenic, nitrates, fluoride & 99%+ of contaminants. NSF certified.
Check Price on AmazonBest Pitcher Filter (Renter-Friendly)
ZeroWater 10-Cup Filter Pitcher
NSF 53 certified to reduce lead and chromium. No installation — fill from the tap and pour.
Check Price on AmazonWe may earn a commission when you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Omaha has the best water quality grade among the 1 Nebraska cities we can grade, with a score of 89/100 (grade B). Scores start at 100 and lose points for health-based EPA violations, lead 90th-percentile results, PFAS detections in EPA's UCMR5 monitoring and historical (2012–2019) readings near a limit.
It varies by utility. Across the 1 Nebraska cities we grade from EPA records, the average score is 89/100 and 100% earn a B or better. None has a health-based EPA violation in the last five years. No city grades below C. Lead from household plumbing is not captured by any city-level grade.
By population served: Omaha grades B (89/100, #1 of 1). Each city report lists the utility's violations, lead 90th-percentile result and PFAS results.
Of the 1 graded Nebraska cities, 0 cities have a D or F grade. 1 of 1 (100%) score above the national average of 88/100 across all graded U.S. cities in our dataset.
This page ranks 1 Nebraska cities from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (violations and lead results, 2026Q2), UCMR5 PFAS monitoring (2023–2026) and Six-Year Review sample data (2012–2019). Each city link opens a report with the utility's violation history, lead 90th-percentile results and PFAS table. For official Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR), contact your local water utility — federal law requires all community water systems to deliver an annual CCR to customers. The Nebraska state environmental agency and the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) also publish official water quality data.
State water quality summary and key statistics
Top 20 cities with the cleanest water
Top-ranked cities nationwide
Cities with the most concerning water
Compare water quality across all 50 states
Side-by-side water quality comparison
Which contaminants show up in Nebraska water
Certified filters matched to your contaminants