Kearney
Kearney, NE water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
kearney, city of
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID NE3101906
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Kearney, NE is a small but growing city, with a population near 33,021 and the 5th-largest community in Nebraska. Like much of Nebraska, Kearney draws its water primarily from Ogallala/High Plains aquifer and Platte River.
Kearney's water outlook is shaped most by groundwater depletion — the issue that dominates planning across Nebraska. Sits atop the largest share of the Ogallala Aquifer; managing that resource for irrigation is the central water question.
Kearney sits in a state that reuses roughly 6% of treated wastewater (developing programs) and currently experiences exceptional drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Nebraska state water profile and the related issues below.
Buffalo County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~33,021 (5th-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 Kearney?
Kearney's largest water system, KEARNEY, CITY OF, serves about 34,000 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 5.5 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Kearney get its water?
KEARNEY, CITY OF 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