Is Lincoln, NE Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Where Does Lincoln Get Its Water?

Lincoln, NE is served by two water systems: the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County Rural Water District 1. Together they cover the 26 ZIP codes in Lancaster County. The City of Lincoln is the primary utility serving the urban population.

The aggregate data documents four major facilities supporting the city's water infrastructure: Treatment Plant 1, Treatment Plant 3, Ground Storage North, and Ground Storage South. These plants treat and store water before it reaches your tap.

The source water type breakdown is not detailed in the available data, but the treatment methods on record, including riverbank filtration and slow sand filtration, are consistent with a system drawing on both groundwater and surface-influenced sources in the region.

How Is Lincoln Tap Water Treated?

Lincoln's water goes through several treatment steps before reaching your tap. The process includes riverbank filtration, which uses the natural soil as a pre-filter, followed by slow sand filtration and other physical treatment to remove particles and pathogens. Corrosion and coagulation control are also part of the treatment train.

Disinfection uses ozone along with other methods to inactivate bacteria and viruses. Ozone is a strong oxidant that breaks down many contaminants and is used here as part of a multi-barrier approach. Residual disinfection helps keep water safe as it travels through the distribution system.

The treatment steps on record do not include ion exchange or granular activated carbon specifically noted for PFAS removal, which is relevant given the PFAS detections discussed below.

What's in Lincoln Tap Water?

The most significant finding in Lincoln's tap water is lithium. EPA testing collected as recently as October 2024 found lithium at a peak of 32.9 micrograms per liter, more than three times EPA's health reference level of 10 micrograms per liter. All 26 ZIP codes in the dataset showed lithium detections above that benchmark.

Four PFAS compounds were also detected across all 26 ZIP codes: PFTrDA, 8:2 FTS, HFPO-DA, and PFBA. Each was detected at or at the reporting limit of 0.005 to 0.007 micrograms per liter. None exceeded a guideline threshold, but their presence is worth noting given ongoing regulatory attention to PFAS as a class.

Lithium in drinking water typically originates from natural geological sources, as the mineral leaches from rock and soil into groundwater and surface water. PFAS compounds have both industrial and consumer-product origins and can enter water supplies through many pathways.

Health Risk Profile for Lincoln

Lithium is the primary concern in Lincoln's water. The EPA health reference level for lithium is 10 micrograms per liter, and Lincoln's water peaked at 32.9 micrograms per liter in recent testing. It is important to understand that this benchmark is not an enforceable federal maximum; there is currently no federal legal limit for lithium in drinking water. The health reference level is a non-regulatory screening tool used to flag potential concern.

Infants fed formula mixed with tap water, pregnant individuals, and people taking lithium-based medications face the greatest potential risk from elevated lithium in drinking water. For these groups, even moderate elevations above the health reference level may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider, particularly given that formula preparation concentrates whatever is in the tap water.

For filtering lithium, look for a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58, the independent third-party standard that verifies a filter actually reduces the contaminants listed on the label. Reverse osmosis is one of the most effective methods for reducing lithium as well as many PFAS compounds. If PFAS is your primary concern, also check for NSF/ANSI P473 certification, which specifically covers PFOA and PFOS removal.

The science on low-level lithium exposure through drinking water is still developing. Some research suggests potential neurological effects at elevated exposures, but EPA has not set a final enforceable standard. Staying informed through Lincoln's annual water quality report is a practical step while federal guidance evolves.