What was found in Lincoln'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 | 2849.5 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6990 µg/L — SKY RANCH ACRES · 95 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 992.95 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 907 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 952.3 µg/L — LANCASTER CO SID 6 - VILLAGE OF EMERALD · 100 people · 2018 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 143.75 µg/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 168.25 µg/L — CROOKED CREEK HOA · 64 people · 2017 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 109 µg/L 1817% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SKY RANCH ACRES · 95 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 44.05 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 24.35 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 23.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2023 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Chloroform | 18.78 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.94 µg/L — CONTEMPO MHP · 1,630 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 17.8353 µg/L 59% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY ACRES SUBDIVISION · 190 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 15.18 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.409 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.8505 µg/L — CROOKED CREEK HOA · 64 people · 2017 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.1025 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.706 µg/L — CONTEMPO MHP · 1,630 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.649 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 6.123 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.014 µg/L — COUNTRY ACRES SUBDIVISION · 190 people · 2018 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 8.9775 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 6.61 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromate | 3.52 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.907 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.01915 pCi/L 20% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2015
Highest in the city: 2.808 pCi/L — SOUTHFORK ESTATES · 80 people · 2017 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.235 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.6720 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3355 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0045 mg/L 30% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LINCOLN, CITY OF · 296,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0640 mg/L — SKY RANCH ACRES · 95 people · 2025 | 7/7 | 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 Lincoln
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LINCOLN, CITY OF | 296,000 |
| CONTEMPO MHP | 1,630 |
| COUNTRY ACRES SUBDIVISION | 190 |
| LANCASTER CO SID 6 - VILLAGE OF EMERALD | 100 |
| SKY RANCH ACRES | 95 |
| SOUTHFORK ESTATES | 80 |
| CROOKED CREEK HOA | 64 |
Frequently asked questions about Lincoln tap water
Is Lincoln tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Lincoln. 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 Lincoln?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lincoln, Nebraska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lincoln's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lincoln include Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate. 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.