Drinking water quality · 2025
What's in Lincoln, NE tap water
16 contaminants were measured in the Lincoln, NE water system's 2025 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit.
- Reporting year
- 2025
- Contaminants measured
- 16
- Over federal limit
- 0
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Service area
- NE
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Lincoln, NE's drinking water comes from ground water, drawn from 45 sources.
Source
- WELL · 41
- COLLECTOR · 4
Treatment
- TREATMENT PLANT 001 - EAST
- TREATMENT PLANT 003 - WEST
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Maximum contaminant level exceededHealth-based2 violations on record · most recent Jun 2004resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArsenicA naturally occurring element that also enters water from industry and agriculture. | 7.1–7.7 ug/LRangeof Test Results | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— of Test Results, Test Reslt
| |||
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 10–990 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 0.0045 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 0.015 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| SeleniumA trace element from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 7.27 ug/LMaximumTest Reslt | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Test Reslt, of Test Results
| |||
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.132 mg/LMaximumTest Reslt | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Test Reslt, of Test Results
| |||
| LithiumA naturally occurring element found in some groundwater. | 20.9 ug/LAverageof Test Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 11 pCi/LMaximumTest Result | 15 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Test Result, of Test Results
| |||
| Combined RadiumCombined radium-226 and radium-228 — naturally occurring radioactive elements. | 2 pCi/LMaximumTest Result | 5 pCi/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Test Result, of Test Results
| |||
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChloramineA longer-lasting disinfectant made by combining chlorine with ammonia. | 2.44 mg/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 32.4 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 19.8 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| BromateA disinfection byproduct formed when bromide-containing water is treated with ozone. | 0.57 ug/LRunning annual avgSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.76 mg/LMaximumTest Reslt | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Test Reslt, of Test Results
| |||
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.16 NTUHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 95 NTUTreatment technique | Within the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate Nitrite | 0.91 mg/LMaximumTest Reslt | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— Test Reslt, of Test Results
| |||
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 1 %Highest single sampleMonthly Positive Coliform Samples | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Lincoln, NE's water
+Is Lincoln, NE tap water safe to drink in 2025?
Every one of the 16 contaminants measured in Lincoln, NE's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report is below its federal limit. "Safe" under the EPA's drinking-water standards is health-based, not aesthetic — but by those standards, no measured contaminant in this report exceeds its enforceable threshold. Individual health concerns (e.g. immunocompromised, infant, pregnancy) may warrant additional filtering regardless of compliance.
+What contaminants are in Lincoln, NE tap water?
16 contaminants were measured in Lincoln, NE's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and radionuclides. 8 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Lincoln, NE's 2025 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Lincoln, NE's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2025 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.