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Nebraska water profile

Nitrate in Nebraska community water systems

Nebraska is one of the highest-nitrate states in the country, and it is a groundwater story: the Ogallala and river-valley aquifers that supply the state sit under decades of irrigated corn. See where the pattern concentrates and what each reporting system measured in the three years from August 9, 2023 to August 9, 2026.

Browse all 583 Nebraska systems →

Search by the utility or system name shown on a water bill. Example: Lincoln Water System. Private wells are not in this inventory.

100%
of the state’s 583 active community water systems have a current result here
583
systems with a current nitrate result
1,707,922
people served by those reporting systems
31.2%
of reporting systems at or above 5 mg/L
How to read these numbers Each system is placed into a band by its most recent reported result within a rolling three-year window. The bands describe how strongly human activity, read from nitrate, has marked a water source; they are not a safety verdict. Figures describe system reporting, not nitrate measured at an individual tap.

How Nebraska's systems fall across the five bands

Most systems report below 3 mg/L

Natural background
0.00–0.99 mg/L as N
167 systems · 273,349 served
Human impact likely
1.00–2.99 mg/L as N
138 systems · 486,633 served
Human impact clear
3.00–4.99 mg/L as N
96 systems · 736,305 served
Health-study range
5.00–9.99 mg/L as N
156 systems · 182,224 served
Above the federal limit
10.00 mg/L and above
26 systems · 29,411 served

Each system appears in one band only, placed by its most recent reported result in the current three-year window. Counts sit beside people served so a small number of larger systems cannot hide behind a row of tiny ones. Of the 182 systems reporting 5 mg/L or more, 62 stayed at or above 5 across the whole three-year range; the other 120 reached it only on a high sample and otherwise ran lower.

Most recent reading Jun 2026; the typical system was last tested around Feb 2026. 489 systems sampled their own water; 94 systems carry a supplier’s result.

The named systems

Every reading here belongs to a utility with a name

Highest recent readings
SystemMost recent resultBandBased onPeople served
Prosser, Village Of18.20 mg/LJun 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limit51 samples76
Friend, City Of16.80 mg/LMar 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limit20 samples964
Cordova, Village Of16.80 mg/LMar 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limitinherited from supplier150
Verdigre, Village Of16.10 mg/LApr 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limitinherited from supplier552
Winnetoon, Village Of16.10 mg/LApr 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limitinherited from supplier75
West Knox Rwd16.10 mg/LApr 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limit48 samples565
Sarpy Co Sid 24 - Thousand Oaks13.20 mg/LFeb 2025a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limit4 samples60
Lindsay, Village Of12.50 mg/LApr 2026a high point — runs lowerAbove the federal limit48 samples255
Largest systems
SystemMost recent resultBandBased onPeople served
Metropolitan Utilities District3.32 mg/LJun 2026a high point — runs lowerHuman impact clear16 samples660,000
Lincoln, City Of1.70 mg/LMay 2026Human impact likely6 samples296,000
Grand Island, City Of2.31 mg/LFeb 2026Human impact likely21 samples51,478
Papillion, City Of0.46 mg/LNov 2025Natural background3 samples35,000
Kearney, City Of1.85 mg/LFeb 2026Human impact likely3 samples34,000

Each result shows its date and what it rests on, so a lone sample is never taken for a settled measurement. A single high sample is not a complete account of what a household drinks.

Where higher nitrate concentrates

Higher results gather along the Platte and the irrigated east

Human impact is clear on drinking water served in 75 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. Each is shaded by how many of its systems reported 3.00 mg/L as N or above. Shading counts systems, not severity — a county with many small utilities can outrank one holding a single larger system that reads higher. The table beside the map splits the two bands so that difference stays visible.

NE counties shaded by number of community water systems reporting nitrate at or above 3.00 mg/L as NCounties are shaded by how many community water systems reported nitrate at or above 3.00 mg/L as N in the three years from August 9, 2023 to August 9, 2026. The same counts appear in the table below this map.Chase County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveNance County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveClay County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 7 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveThomas County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveGarfield County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveCuster County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveAntelope County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHoward County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or abovePolk County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveSeward County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 5 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or abovePhelps County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveCuming County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHitchcock County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveStanton County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveWayne County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveAdams County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 8 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveGosper County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveFillmore County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 3 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveSaunders County — 4 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDawes County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveSaline County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 5 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveBuffalo County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHarlan County — 3 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDawson County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveValley County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveKearney County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveYork County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveJohnson County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveKimball County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveRichardson County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveRed Willow County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveBoone County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveSherman County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHall County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveOtoe County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 5 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHolt County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveWashington County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveColfax County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveBox Butte County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHayes County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveCherry County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDouglas County — 6 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDodge County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 3 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveRock County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or abovePierce County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveLancaster County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 7 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveHamilton County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveMadison County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveMerrick County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveBoyd County — 4 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveCass County — 3 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 8 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or abovePerkins County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveNuckolls County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveFurnas County — 3 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 5 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDixon County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 3 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveGage County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 8 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveNemaha County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 7 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDeuel County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveSheridan County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveSarpy County — 4 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveDundy County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 0 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveThayer County — 3 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 3 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveFrontier County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveScotts Bluff County — 4 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveCedar County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveBurt County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveJefferson County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveFranklin County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 3 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or abovePlatte County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 5 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveMorrill County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 2 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveKeya Paha County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveCheyenne County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveKnox County — 1 system at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 4 systems at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveWebster County — 2 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or aboveKeith County — 0 systems at 3.00–4.99 mg/L as N; 1 system at 5.00 mg/L as N or above
none1–23–56–1112–2526+Number of drinking water systems reporting ≥3.00 mg/L NO₃–N per county as of August 9, 2026

Adams leads this layer with 8 reporting systems, followed by Cass, Gage, Clay. Higher results gather along the Platte and the irrigated east. Coverage note: the map places 97% of Nebraska’s reporting systems. Of the rest, 9 carry a supplier’s result measured elsewhere and belong off this map; 9 sampled their own water and are missing a county in the records, so the map reads as a floor by at least that much.

Counties with the most systems at or above 3 mg/L as N
County3–4.99≥5Total ≥3
Cass3811
Gage189
Adams088
Clay178
Furnas358

Counts use each system's most recent reported result in the current three-year window. A system appears in only one of the two bands. Coverage note: the map places 97% of Nebraska’s reporting systems. Of the rest, 9 carry a supplier’s result measured elsewhere and belong off this map; 9 sampled their own water and are missing a county in the records, so the map reads as a floor by at least that much.

Find a specific Nebraska system

What the statewide pattern says

An irrigated-terrace pattern, and a slow fix

Nebraska's higher nitrate concentrates beneath irrigated cropland on the High Plains aquifer — the Central Platte above all — and even decades of mandatory groundwater rules have moved it only slowly.

Most of Nebraska draws from the High Plains (Ogallala) aquifer — well-drained sand and gravel, shallow in the river valleys, beneath some of the most intensively irrigated cropland in the country (Nolan and Hitt, 2006). The flagship hotspot is the Central Platte, where groundwater beneath irrigated terraces long averaged roughly 18 to 26 mg/L of nitrate — about double the federal limit — while bottomland nearby ran far lower: the geology showing through (Exner, Hirsh and Spalding, 2014).

Nebraska is also the state that tried to fix it with rules that bite. Its 23 locally elected Natural Resources Districts hold real regulatory authority over groundwater, and the Central Platte district imposed mandatory fertilizer-timing limits back in the 1980s. The honest lesson: even with teeth, improvement has been glacial — on the order of 0.14 to 0.26 mg/L a year — and much of the gain came from switching furrow irrigation to sprinklers, not from fertilizer rules alone. Decades-long travel times mean the ground answers slowly (Exner and others, 2014).

The supported source reading is agricultural — fertilizer on irrigated corn, delivered by irrigation recharge — not a certified source at any individual system. Statewide, the drivers split east and west: in the east, nitrate tracks sandy topsoil, well depth, and hydraulic conductivity; in the west, vadose-zone thickness and aquifer thickness. Nebraska's 2024 statewide private-well study — the largest in state history, about 3,500 wells — gives the private-well side its first full look (Nebraska DWEE, 2024).

The general science — how nitrate moves, why some ground is vulnerable, and why the legacy lingers — is laid out with its sources on Where nitrate comes from.

Questions this page answers

What the Nebraska pattern does—and does not—say

Where does nitrate concentrate in Nebraska community water systems?

Adams leads this layer with 8 reporting systems, followed by Cass, Gage, Clay. Higher results gather along the Platte and the irrigated east.

Have Nebraska's groundwater rules fixed nitrate?

Only slowly. Central Platte terrace nitrate declined roughly 0.14 to 0.26 mg/L per year over multi-decade records under mandatory NRD controls, and much of the gain came from converting furrow irrigation to sprinklers. Decades-long travel times mean the ground answers slowly, whatever the rules.

Can this page say the source is agriculture?

At the zone level, yes — carefully. Beneath the irrigated Platte terraces, the supported reading is fertilizer on irrigated corn delivered by irrigation recharge. The evidence does not certify a source at each individual system.

Does a high public-system result mean a nearby private well is high?

No. It is a local sentinel, not a well-specific result. It shows that nitrogen and a transport pathway have reached groundwater in the area; a certified-lab test is still the only way to know a specific private well.

Sources and provenance

What this page rests on

  1. NitrateSmart inventory: 583 Nebraska community water systems with a current nitrate result in the three years from August 9, 2023 to August 9, 2026. Figures count people served by reporting systems, not measured tap exposure.
  2. Nolan BT, Hitt KJ (2006). Vulnerability of Shallow Groundwater and Drinking-Water Wells to Nitrate in the United States. Environmental Science & Technology 40(24):7834–7840.
  3. Dubrovsky NM, and others (2010). Nutrients in the Nation's Streams and Groundwater, 1992–2004. USGS Circular 1350.
  4. Exner ME, Hirsh AJ, Spalding RF (2014). Nebraska's groundwater legacy: Nitrate contamination beneath irrigated cropland. Water Resources Research 50(5):4474–4489.
  5. Gurdak JJ, Qi SL (2006). Vulnerability of Recently Recharged Ground Water in the High Plains Aquifer to Nitrate Contamination. USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5050.
  6. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (2024). Nitrate in Drinking Water Study — statewide private-well sampling of about 3,500 wells; the largest such effort in state history.