Nebraska
Nebraska sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Ogallala/High Plains aquifer and Platte River. With roughly 1.97 million residents, the state has a developing water reuse program, reusing an estimated 6% of its treated wastewater.
Nebraskawater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Nebraska
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 68 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 42 |
| Coliform (TCR) | 16 |
| Arsenic | 12 |
| Groundwater Rule | 12 |
| Combined Uranium | 6 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Sits atop the largest share of the Ogallala Aquifer; managing that resource for irrigation is the central water question.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Nebraska currently tracks around exceptional conditions. Nebraska has 594 community water systems serving about 2 million people; EPA records show 147 of them (24.7%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Nebraska in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 160 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 9.5 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 61.2%
- Irrigation share
- 64.1%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~6%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Ogallala/High Plains aquifer
- ≈ Platte River
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Nebraska?
Nebraska has 594 community water systems serving about 2 million people. EPA records show 147 of them (24.7%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 5 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Nebraska's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve Revised Total Coliform Rule, Nitrate-Nitrite, Coliform (TCR).
How much water does Nebraska use per person?
Public water systems in Nebraska withdraw about 160 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 61.2% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Nebraska?
As of 2026-06-09, 80.9% of Nebraska is in drought (D1+) and 69.6% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Nebraska
6 trackedOmaha
Omaha, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Lincoln
Lincoln, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Bellevue
Bellevue, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Grand Island
Grand Island, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Kearney
Kearney, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Fremont
Fremont, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Nebraska
Groundwater Depletion
Aquifers from the Central Valley to the Ogallala are being pumped faster than they recharge, causing land subsidence and threatening long-term supply.
ExploreAgricultural Demand
Agriculture accounts for the majority of consumptive water use in the West, making farm efficiency and water markets central to any supply solution.
ExploreDrought
Much of the American West is in a multi-decade dry period that researchers describe as the most severe in over a millennium, reshaping how communities plan for water.
Explore