What was found in Omaha'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 | 5167.5 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 49.92 µg/L 3.8% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1423.4 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO SID 277 - THE FARM · 450 people · 2017 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 896 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 179.3 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 261.55 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO SID 177 - RIVERSIDE LAKES · 330 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 102 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2025 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| TTHM | 63.86 µg/L 80% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 43.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 35.95 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 26.47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 16.35 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 21.095 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO SID 277 - THE FARM · 450 people · 2018 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 15.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.3105 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.26 µg/L — MEADOWBROOK ESTATES WATER SYSTEM · 675 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 6.922 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8.6425 µg/L — DOUGLAS CO SID 277 - THE FARM · 450 people · 2018 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.3 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 7.071 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 7.045 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5.295 µg/L 2.6% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO SID 277 - THE FARM · 450 people · 2017 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.656 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Dinoseb | 3.22 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 3.11 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2.962 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.014 µg/L — MEADOWBROOK ESTATES WATER SYSTEM · 675 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.8573 pCi/L 37% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 2.1475 pCi/L — DOUGLAS CO SID 258 - CARAT HOMES · 125 people · 2018 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.1375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.8665 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.945 µg/L — MEADOWBROOK ESTATES WATER SYSTEM · 675 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| 2,4,5-TP | 1.08 µg/L 2.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chlorobenzene | 0.9930 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.9830 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.8400 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.7300 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: DOUGLAS CO SID 177 - RIVERSIDE LAKES · 330 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.6797 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0123 mg/L 82% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT · 660,000 people · 2025 | 8/8 | 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 Omaha
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT | 660,000 |
| SARPY CO SID 23 - WESTMONT SUBDIVISION | 980 |
| MAPLEWOOD ESTATES MOBILE HOME PARK | 805 |
| MEADOWBROOK ESTATES WATER SYSTEM | 675 |
| DOUGLAS CO SID 277 - THE FARM | 450 |
| DOUGLAS CO SID 177 - RIVERSIDE LAKES | 330 |
| DOUGLAS CO SID 258 - CARAT HOMES | 125 |
| RIO VISTA MHP | 100 |
Frequently asked questions about Omaha tap water
Is Omaha tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving Omaha. 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 Omaha?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Omaha, Nebraska to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Omaha's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Omaha include Nitrate-Nitrite, Copper, Fluoride, Barium, Lithium. 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.