What was found in Columbus's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 864 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9429.5 µg/L — SILVER TRAILER PARK · 85 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1255.5 µg/L 97% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 922 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 370.25 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 45.56 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2.93 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.8075 µg/L — COLLEGE VIEW PARK · 150 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 34 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2025 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 15.33 µg/L 153% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 13.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 13.42 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 11.436 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: SILVER TRAILER PARK · 85 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 9.476 µg/L 9.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 9.091 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 4.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.4395 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 4.4075 pCi/L 88% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.31 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 4.22 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: COLLEGE VIEW PARK · 150 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.01 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.078 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Carbofuran | 0.5700 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 40 µg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Heptachlor | 0.1110 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 0.4000 µg/L Highest in the city: COLLEGE VIEW PARK · 150 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0033 mg/L 22% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: COLUMBUS, CITY OF · 24,028 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0034 mg/L — CIRCLE H MOBILE HOME PARK · 85 people · 2024 | 4/4 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Columbus
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| COLUMBUS, CITY OF | 24,028 |
| COLLEGE VIEW PARK | 150 |
| SILVER TRAILER PARK | 85 |
| CIRCLE H MOBILE HOME PARK | 85 |
Frequently asked questions about Columbus tap water
Is Columbus tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving Columbus. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Columbus?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Columbus, Nebraska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Columbus's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Columbus include Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.