We analyzed tap water quality data for hundreds of cities in Nebraska to identify the 25 with the most contaminants exceeding health guidelines. This ranking is based on 2026 data from the EPA and EWG databases.
While all public water systems must meet EPA legal limits, many health experts — including the Environmental Working Group — argue that these legal limits are outdated and don't reflect current scientific understanding of safe exposure levels. The cities below have the widest gap between what's in their water and what's considered safe by modern health standards.
Rankings at a Glance
South Sioux City, Nebraska
South Sioux City has 20 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 44 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full South Sioux City water report →Grand Island, Nebraska
Grand Island has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Grand Island water report →Alda, Nebraska
Alda has 18 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 33 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Alda water report →Minatare, Nebraska
Minatare has 17 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Minatare water report →Papillion, Nebraska
Papillion has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Papillion water report →Kearney, Nebraska
Kearney has 16 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Kearney water report →Bellevue, Nebraska
Bellevue has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 29 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Bellevue water report →Waterloo, Nebraska
Waterloo has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Waterloo water report →Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Lincoln water report →Fremont, Nebraska
Fremont has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Fremont water report →Farmington Hills, Nebraska
Farmington Hills has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 27 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Farmington Hills water report →Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Scottsbluff has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Scottsbluff water report →Columbus, Nebraska
Columbus has 15 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 24 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Columbus water report →Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Omaha water report →Studio City, Nebraska
Studio City has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 28 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Studio City water report →Alliance, Nebraska
Alliance has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 22 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Alliance water report →Gering, Nebraska
Gering has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Gering water report →Stromsburg, Nebraska
Stromsburg has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Stromsburg water report →Auburn, Nebraska
Auburn has 14 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 20 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Auburn water report →Norfolk, Nebraska
Norfolk has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 25 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Norfolk water report →Blair, Nebraska
Blair has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 21 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Blair water report →Falls City, Nebraska
Falls City has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 16 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Falls City water report →Wakefield, Nebraska
Wakefield has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 15 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Wakefield water report →Clarks, Nebraska
Clarks has 13 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 15 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Clarks water report →Trumbull, Nebraska
Trumbull has 12 contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines out of 26 detected — significantly above the national average. Multiple known carcinogens were found at levels of concern.
See full Trumbull water report →What We Found: Key Patterns
The most frequently detected contaminants exceeding health guidelines across these cities are Bromodichloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane. These appear repeatedly across different water systems and regions.
Water quality varies significantly even within the same state, driven by local geology, agricultural activity, and industrial proximity.
Across all ranked cities, 371 contaminant readings exceed EWG health guidelines, but only 2 exceed EPA legal limits. This gap of 369 highlights how legal standards may not fully protect public health — EPA limits haven't been updated for many contaminants in decades.
Full Rankings Table
| Rank | City | State | Detected | Above Guidelines | Above Legal | People Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Sioux City | NE | 44 | 20 | 1 | 14,043 |
| 2 | Grand Island | NE | 33 | 18 | 0 | 51,478 |
| 3 | Alda | NE | 33 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Minatare | NE | 28 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Papillion | NE | 27 | 16 | 0 | 35,000 |
| 6 | Kearney | NE | 27 | 16 | 0 | 33,790 |
| 7 | Bellevue | NE | 29 | 15 | 0 | 357 |
| 8 | Waterloo | NE | 28 | 15 | 0 | 962 |
| 9 | Lincoln | NE | 27 | 15 | 0 | 292,000 |
| 10 | Fremont | NE | 27 | 15 | 0 | 27,141 |
| 11 | Farmington Hills | NE | 27 | 15 | 0 | 350 |
| 12 | Scottsbluff | NE | 26 | 15 | 0 | 14,282 |
| 13 | Columbus | NE | 24 | 15 | 0 | 24,028 |
| 14 | Omaha | NE | 28 | 14 | 0 | 600,000 |
| 15 | Studio City | NE | 28 | 14 | 0 | 100 |
| 16 | Alliance | NE | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Gering | NE | 20 | 14 | 1 | 1,143 |
| 18 | Stromsburg | NE | 20 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Auburn | NE | 20 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Norfolk | NE | 25 | 13 | 0 | 25,177 |
| 21 | Blair | NE | 21 | 13 | 0 | 100 |
| 22 | Falls City | NE | 16 | 13 | 0 | 980 |
| 23 | Wakefield | NE | 15 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Clarks | NE | 15 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Trumbull | NE | 26 | 12 | 0 | 194 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the worst tap water in Nebraska?
Based on 2026 data, South Sioux City, NE has the most contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines among the cities we analyzed.
How are cities ranked in this report?
Cities are ranked by the number of contaminants exceeding EWG health guidelines. These guidelines are typically stricter than EPA legal limits and reflect current scientific research on safe exposure levels.
Is my tap water safe if my city isn't on this list?
Not necessarily. Even cities not on this list may have contaminants of concern. We recommend checking your specific water quality using our free water scan tool.
What's the best water filter for contaminated water?
A reverse osmosis (RO) system is the most effective for removing the widest range of contaminants. For whole-home protection, a combination of RO for drinking water and a whole-home filter for showers and baths is recommended.
Related Reports
Data sources: Environmental Working Group (EWG) Tap Water Database, U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Last updated: April 2026
Methodology: Contaminant levels are compared against both EPA legal limits (Maximum Contaminant Levels) and EWG health guidelines, which are often stricter and based on the latest scientific research.
