Bellevue
Bellevue, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
bellevue terrace mhc llc
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NE3121486
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 55,510 residents, Bellevue ranks as the 3rd-largest city in Nebraska and a small but growing city. Water in Bellevue is sourced chiefly from Ogallala/High Plains aquifer and Platte River, the backbone of Nebraska's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: groundwater depletion. Sits atop the largest share of the Ogallala Aquifer; managing that resource for irrigation is the central water question.
Statewide, Nebraska recycles about 6% of its wastewater with developing reuse programs. Locally, Bellevue faces exceptional drought conditions.
The Nebraska state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Bellevue's water future.
Sarpy County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~55,510 (3rd-largest in Nebraska)
- Primary sources: Ogallala/High Plains aquifer and Platte River
- Drought: exceptional conditions
- State reuse rate: ~6% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Nebraska in severe+ drought (Exceptional (D4) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Bellevue?
Bellevue's largest water system, BELLEVUE TERRACE MHC LLC, serves about 357 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 0 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Bellevue get its water?
BELLEVUE TERRACE MHC LLC draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Nebraska's supply from Ogallala/High Plains aquifer, Platte River.
Related water issues
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