Lincoln, NE Water Quality Report
Is Lincoln tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Lincoln, Nebraska. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Lincoln tap water safe to drink? Lincoln tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 28.41 ppt across 1 compound. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Lincoln water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Lincoln water: lithium (47.6 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Lincoln? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Lincoln Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Lincoln drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 47.6 ppt across 2 water systems, representing an average of 28.41 ppt across 1 detected compound.
Contamination Level: MODERATE – Moderate contamination – PFAS detected at meaningful levels; filtration recommended.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 47.6 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Lincoln Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 20 lead samples for Lincoln water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.00833 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Lincoln
Lincoln public water systems have 2 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Gross Alpha (excl. radon & uranium), Lead & Copper Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Lincoln: approximately 291,082.
ZIP Codes Served
Compare Lincoln to Other Cities
Side-by-side PFAS contamination comparisons with same-state, regional, and national peers.
What Lincoln Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually