2020 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

Why This Report?

The Safe Drinking Water Act requires Lincoln Water System to annually issue a report describing the quality of your drinking water. This report fulfills that obligation and puts important information about the quality of your drinking water into the hands of our valued customers. This report provides an overview of last year’s water quality data collected from January 1 through December 31, 2020, including details about the source of your water, what it contains and how it compares to state and federal standards.

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Test Results (2020 data unless otherwise noted)

Regulated Contaminants Detected

Tested and Detected Units Regulatory Limit (MCL) Goal (MCLG) Ashland Plants Lincoln (a) Violation Yes/No Likely Source (in U.S. drinking water systems)
Inorganic Contaminants
Arsenic - Ashland ppb 10 N/A 6.13-6.35 N/A No Erosion of natural deposits; runoff from orchards; runoff from glass and electronic production
Atrazine ppb 3 3 ND-0.085 N/A No Runoff from herbicide used on row crops
Barium - Ashland (07/19) ppb 2000 2000 110-112 N/A No Discharge of drilling wastes; discharge from metal refineries; erosion of natural deposits
Copper (a) - Lincoln 90th percentile (06/19) ppm 1.3 (AL) 1.3 N/A 0.006-1.56 0.724 No Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits; leaching from wood preservatives
Fluoride ppm 4 4 0.913-0.969 (07/19) 0.89-0.97 (b) No Erosion of natural deposits; water additive which promotes strong teeth; discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories
Lead (a) - Lincoln 90th percentile (06/19) ppb 15 (AL) 0 N/A ND-13.7 3.12 No Corrosion of household plumbing; erosion of natural deposits
Nitrate+Nitrite - Ashland ppm 10 10 0.59-0.78 N/A No Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching from septic tanks, sewage; erosion of natural deposits
Radioactive Contaminants
Gross Alpha (including Radon & U) pCi/L 15 0 14.7 N/A No Erosion of natural deposits
Disinfection - Byproducts
Trihalomethanes - Lincoln max RAA (e) ppb 80 N/A 32.4 (05/19) 29.2-49.9 37.2 No Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Total Haloacetic Acid Lincoln max RAA (e) ppb 60 N/A N/A 13.7-35.2 21.4 No Byproduct of drinking water chlorination
Bromate (d) ppb 10 0 ND - 1.1 N/A No Byproduct of drinking water ozonation
Clarity
Turbidity (c) NTU 0.3 N/A 0.02-0.12 N/A No Soil runoff
Disinfectant
Chloramine (as Cl2) Lincoln max RAA ppm 4 (MRDL) 4 (MRDLG) N/A ND-3.4 2.0 No Water additive to control microbes
Microbiological Total Coliform Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) Highest Monthly Positive Coliform Samples Total Positive E. Coli or Fecal Coliform Samples in 2020 Violation Fecal Coliform or E. Coli Maximum Contaminant Level Likely Source of Contamination
Coliform Bacteria 5% of monthly samples are positive 0 1 (0.66%) 0 No Fecal Coliform or E. Coli MCL; A routine sample and a repeat sample are total coliform positive, and one is also fecal coliform or E. Coli positive. Total Coliform bacteria are naturally present in the environment. Fecal coliform and E. Coli are present in human and animal fecal waste.

Key to Test Results

  • AL - Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which triggers treatment or another requirement which a water system must follow.
  • MCL - Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
  • MCLG - Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
  • MRDL - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
  • MRDLG - Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal: The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
  • ppm (parts per million) = mg/L (milligrams per liter) - One ppm corresponds to 1 gallon of water in 1 million gallons of water.
  • ppb (parts per billion) - One ppb corresponds to 1 gallon of water in 1 billion gallons of water.
  • N/A - Not applicable
  • ND - Not detected
  • pCi/L - pico curies per liter (measure of radioactivity)
  • NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Unit: A measure of the cloudiness of the water
  • LRA - Locational Running Average
  • RAA - Running Annual Average: An ongoing annual average calculation of data from the most recent four quarters.
  • 90th Percentile - Represents the highest value found out of 90 percent of the samples taken in a representative group. If the 90th percentile is greater than the action level, it will trigger a treatment or other requirements that a water system must follow.
    1. Water from the treatment plant does not contain detectable lead or copper. Tests for lead and copper are collected from the customer’s tap to ensure the substances have not been dissolved from the customer’s service lines or interior piping system.
    2. Fluoride is added in treatment to bring the natural level of about 0.4 ppm to the State required level of 0.8-1.5 ppm.
    3. TT - Treatment Technique
    4. Samples collected quarterly from 7/9/2019 - 10/1/2020
    5. Monitoring period 4/1/2019 - 3/31/2020

Water Quality Parameters 2020

(Average of 12 monthly water quality analyses)

  • pH (in pH units) 7.65
  • Total Alkalinity (CaCO3) 172 ppm
  • Total Hardness (CaCO3) (13 grains per gallon) 208 ppm
  • Total Dissolved Solids 366 ppm
  • Calcium 59 ppm
  • Chloride 23 ppm
  • Iron <0.05 ppm
  • Manganese 1.7 ppb
  • Sodium 35 ppm
  • Sulfate 87ppm

Repeated Testing

Unregulated Contaminants Tested

Lincoln Water System monitors the following unregulated contaminants:

Tested and Detected Ashland Units
Sulfate (08/19) 84.5-85.6 ppm

The City of Lincoln is required to test for the following contaminants: Coliform Bacteria, Antimony, Arsenic, Asbestos, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Cyanide, Fluoride, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Sodium, Thallium, Alachlor, Atrazine, Benzo(a) pyrene, Carbofuran, Chlordane, Dalapon, Di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate, Dibromochloropropane, Dinoseb, Di(2-ethylhexyl)- phthalate, Diquat, 2,4-D, Endothall, Endrin, Ethylene dibromide, Glyphosate, Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Lindane, Metolachlor, Methoxychlor, Oxamyl (Vydate), Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Polychlorinated biphenyls, Simazine, Toxaphene, Dioxin, Silvex, Benzene, Carbon Tetrachloride, o-Dichloro- benzene, Para-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, Cis-1,2,-Dichloroethylene, Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, Dichloromethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Ethylbenzene, Monochlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trichloro- benzene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene, Vinyl Chloride, Styrene, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, Xylenes (total), Gross Alpha (minus Uranium & Radium 226), Radium 226 plus Radium 228, Sulfate, Chloroform, Bromodichloromethane, Chlorodibromomethane, Bromoform, Chlorobenzene, m-Dichlorobenzene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachlorethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, Chloromethane, Bromomethane, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, Chloroethane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, o-Chlorotoluene, p-Chlorotoluene, Bromobenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropene, Aldrin, Butachlor, Carbaryl, Dicamba, Dieldrin, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Methomyl, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Propachlor.

Lincoln’s water is moderately hard.

Alkalinity, pH and hardness are important when considering a water softener.

Additional Sampling Results

As required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Lincoln Water System tested for several unregulated contaminants in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Unregulated contaminants are those that do not yet have a drinking water standard set by USEPA. The purpose of testing for these contaminants is to help USEPA decide whether they should have a standard. Below are the test results from our treatment plant and our distribution system. If you wish to see the full set of results, please contact Lincoln Water System, John Keith at 402-441-1622 or PO Box 144, Ashland, NE 68003.

Detected Unregulated Contaminants (Treatment Plant Samples) Monitoring Period Average Range Unit
Manganese 2020 6 6 - 6 ug/L

Tested For But Not Detected Unregulated Contaminants

Germanium, Ethoprop, alpha-Hexachlorocyclohexane, Dimethipin, Chloropyrifos, Profenofos, Tribufos, Oxyfluorfen, Tebuconazole, Total Permethrin (cis- & trans-), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), o-toluidine, Quinoline, 2-propen-1-ol (allyl alcohol), 1-butanol, 2-methoxyethanol

What does this information mean?

The USEPA and Nebraska Drinking Water Program establish the safe drinking water regulations that limit the amount of contaminants allowed in drinking water. As the regulations require, Lincoln Water System routinely tests your water for numerous contaminants. The test results in this report show the concentrations of detected substances in comparison to the regulatory limits. The State requires monitoring of certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Therefore, some of this data may be older than one year.

The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by visiting the USEPA’s website at epa.gov, calling the USEPA hotline at 800-426-4791 or calling the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department at 402-441-8000.

Special Health Requirements

While the presence of chloramines in our water is not a cause for concern among the general public, home dialysis patients, immuno-compromised individuals and aquarium owners must take special precautions before the water can be used.

Water used for kidney dialysis equipment may require further treatment. Please contact your doctor or dialysis technician to ensure that your home equipment is adequate and proper tests are being made every time it is used.

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. This includes immuno-compromised persons, such as those with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy, those who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly people and infants. These customers and caregivers should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. USEPA/CDC guidelines on how to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.

Home Water Treatment Devices

Lincoln Water System meets all state and federal water quality standards. Use of a supplemental filter or home water treatment device is a personal preference, however, if not properly maintained, it could cause water quality problems. In selecting a filter or home water treatment device, determine what substance you want to remove and look for a filter that has a National Sanitation Foundation / Underwriter’s Laboratories (NSF/UL) certification to remove those specific substances. Information on plumbing fixtures and in-home filters is available by calling 1-800-NSF-MARK or visiting nsf.org.

What is the source of our water?

In the United States, drinking water sources include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and groundwater. Lincoln’s water source is groundwater that is naturally high in quality. It comes from wells along the Platte River near Ashland. Approximately one-half of the supply is groundwater and approximately one-half is groundwater under the direct influence of surface water. In 2020, more than 12.5 billion gallons of water were pumped from these wells to serve the 292,000 people who used an average of about 34.2 million gallons of water each day.

A source water assessment of our water supply has been completed by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ). The assessment includes maps, an inventory of potential contaminant sources and a determination of the vulnerability of the system to contamination. If you have any questions or would like to view the source water assessment, call John Keith, 402-441-1622, to schedule an appointment.

As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, naturally occurring minerals dissolve, and the water can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animal or human activities. Factors that can impact the quality of our source water include microbial contaminants, organic or inorganic contaminants, and even pesticides, herbicides and radioactive contaminants. To ensure that tap water is safe, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Safe Drinking Water standards limit the amount of contaminants in the water supplied to customers. Following the treatment process, Lincoln’s drinking water continues to meet all of these standards. Lincoln’s water does contain small amounts of atrazine, trihalomethanes and arsenic but these levels remain below USEPA Safe Drinking Water standards.

Atrazine is a herbicide used by farmers to kill weeds in corn and grain sorghum. Atrazine is applied to the fields at planting time. When it rains, atrazine is washed from fields and enters streams and rivers.

Trihalomethanes include four chemicals formed when chlorine, which is added to the water to limit microbial growth, reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in the water. The maximum level allowed is 80 parts per billion, and Lincoln’s water has always been below this level. It should be noted that any harmful health effects caused by disinfection byproducts are small compared with the health risks associated with inadequate disinfection.

Arsenic, a naturally occurring element associated with soil and rock, is also detected in Lincoln’s drinking water and remains below USEPA limits. The Safe Drinking Water standard (MCL) for arsenic is 10 ppb. While Lincoln’s drinking water meets USEPA’s standard, it does contain between 6.1 ppb and 6.4 ppb arsenic based on testing performed in 2020. USEPA’s standard balances arsenic’s possible health effects against the cost of removing it from drinking water. USEPA continues to research the health effects. At concentrations much higher than regulatory levels, arsenic is known to cause some types of cancer and other health problems. Lincoln Water System continues to evaluate options for future treatment and removal of arsenic as regulations require.

How is our water treated?

Thanks to the natural filtration of groundwater, nature has already done much of the work in enhancing the quality of Lincoln’s water. Lincoln’s source water contains iron and manganese, which can stain clothing and plumbing fixtures if left untreated. To remove these and other unwanted substances, water is pumped to the water treatment plants. The water flows through one of two processes before it is distributed to your home or business.

The oldest process, highly effective since the 1930s, uses aeration, chlorination, detention and filtration. An exact amount of chlorine is added to the water in a large underground reservoir. The water is held in the reservoir for up to two hours. This allows the chlorine to inactivate microbes. It also oxidizes iron and manganese to form particles which are then trapped in the sand filters.

The second process uses ozone technology. Ozone, an extremely strong oxidizer and disinfectant, quickly inactivates microbes. It also causes iron and manganese to form particles which are then removed in the filtration process.

The next step is vital to protecting the health of our community. Once the water passes through the filters, small but exact amounts of chlorine and ammonia are added. These chemicals combine to form a disinfectant called “chloramine,” which limits the growth of bacteria in the City’s water distribution pipes. Finally, fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay.

Water Treatment from Wellfield to Home

Water from the wells travels over 20 miles to reach Lincoln and its first stop is the Treatment Plant.

Learn More About Your Water's Journey 

Download PDF Version

Lead And Copper

Lincoln’s drinking water does not contain detectable levels of lead and copper in its source water or after treatment. However, the presence of lead and copper used in plumbing systems can introduce detectable levels of these contaminants into the drinking water at individual homes or businesses. Water testing conducted by Lincoln Water System has found detectable levels of lead and copper in homes built before 1988. These homes are more likely to have pipes, fixtures, and solder that contain lead. In Nebraska, plumbing materials containing high concentrations of lead were banned in 1987. Homes built before 1950 may have a portion of the water service line constructed using lead pipes, and these homes may have higher levels of lead in their drinking water.

Safe drinking water properties vary across the country depending on the water source. Lincoln’s drinking water chemistry does not promote excessive lead and copper leaching from plumbing systems. As a result, Lincoln Water System remains in compliance with USEPA requirements for lead and copper.

Lead and copper sampling is performed by Lincoln Water System every three years as required by the USEPA Lead and Copper Rule (LCR). The collective test results for the 66 samples collected in 2019 were below the USEPA action level of 15 parts per billion lead and 1,300 parts per billion copper. The statistical analysis of the test results continues to show Lincoln’s drinking water remains in compliance with USEPA requirements for lead and copper.

Lead “gooseneck” connection from meter to house plumbing

If present, elevated levels of lead and copper can cause serious health problems, especially for infants, young children and pregnant women. Lead and copper in drinking water comes primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. Other sources of lead exposure can be lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Lincoln Water System is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in household and business plumbing components. When the water in your pipes has been sitting for several hours, USEPA recommends minimizing the potential for lead exposure by flushing your cold water tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using the cold water for drinking or cooking. Because private plumbing system construction varies, Lincoln Water System recommends flushing for at least five minutes in homes constructed prior to 1950. Consider filling a water pitcher for drinking water to avoid repeated flushing.

If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from these sources:

  • USEPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
  • USEPA website at epa.gov/safewater/lead.
  • Department of Health and Human Services / Drinking Water Division at 402-471-1009.
  • The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department at 402-441-8000.

EPA’s Revised Lead and Copper Rule Better Protects Against Exposure to Lead from Plumbing Materials

In January 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a revised Lead and Copper Rule that public water systems must comply with starting in 2024. The rule will help water systems better identify high levels of lead, expand consumer awareness, and improve risk communication. The revised rule also includes lead testing in schools and childcare facilities, requires water systems to identify the locations of lead service lines, and establishes a new trigger level that may require systems to perform lead service line replacements. Because lead service lines found in older homes and buildings can contribute significant amounts of lead to water, the revised rule re-focuses on sampling water from these locations. The new rule also revises the method used to obtain representative samples. These revisions may result in some public water systems to exceed the new trigger level prompting additional actions. Lincoln Water System maintains records of water service lines, which are privately-owned. These are available for viewing on the city’s website. More information about accessing our tap records can be found in following the section, “Do I have a lead service line?”

Do I have a lead service line?

The water service line is the pipe that is owned by the property owner which connects their home to the public water main. Using existing records, LWS has identified approximately 4,000 privately owned water service lines that may contain lead. In some cases, records have limited or missing information that make it difficult to determine the exact material used in the installation of the service line.

How Lead Gets Into Drinking Water: brass faucets, fixtures and fittings manufactured before 2014 • lead service lines, lead solder, lead or galvanized pipes

Customers should also be aware that lead-containing materials can be found in other locations of the home plumbing constructed before 2014 when lead-containing materials were banned from use.

Hire a Plumber

We recommend you use an experienced, certified plumber to assist in reviewing your service line record and in identifying lead-containing materials in your plumbing system, fittings, fixtures, or other potential sources of lead.

Access our records

You can view information on your water service line by accessing records online. Knowing this information can be helpful in determining the risk of your service line contributing to lead in your water.

Access our tap record interactive map at lincoln.ne.gov/WaterServiceLines. The database is searchable by address, owner, parcel number, or by clicking on a property on the map. If there are records associated with the selected address, they will appear under the heading “TAP Images”. Click on all the records labeled “Water” to see the images of our records. Please feel free to call Lincoln Water System at 402-441-7571 for help interpreting these records. It is important to look over all the records listed as many older service lines have been partially or fully replaced and will have additional records indicating this. If the supply line was replaced, you should see the words “old tap abandoned” and/or “replacement tap”. Please be aware these records may not be complete, may have missing information, or may not have been updated if the property owner had work performed and it was not reported to Lincoln Water System.

You can also call Lincoln Water System at 402-441-7571 for information about your service line.

Conserve

Reduce Outdoor Water Use

The last time Lincoln had mandatory water restrictions caused by drought conditions was during the summer of 2012. Since that time, the City has revised its Water Management Plan to simplify watering restrictions. One important change was placing all multi-family, commercial, industrial and governmental properties, street medians and single-family properties with a common irrigation system on a set schedule regardless of address. Designated watering days for these properties are on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Single-family properties and duplexes will be on the designated day schedule shown below based on even/odd numbered addresses.

Designated Day Outdoor Watering Schedule

Property Type Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Multi-family, commercial, industrial, governmental, institutional properties, street medians and single family properties (townhome developments) with a common irrigation system. All addresses. Sunday • Tuesday • Friday
Single-family properties and duplexes with even-numbered addresses (ending in 0,2,4,6 or 8) Sunday • Wednesday • Friday
Single-family properties and duplexes with oddnumbered addresses (ending in 1,3,5,7 or 9) Tuesday • Thursday • Saturday

On warm summer days, several million gallons of treated drinking water are used to irrigate lawns in Lincoln. Customers are reminded that the designated three-day watering schedule is available to provide flexibility when watering. The schedule is not meant to suggest that lawns be watered all three days. Rather, property owners should consider using only minimal amounts of water to maintain landscapes, and restrict weekly watering to one or two days, if possible.

The Water Management Plan allows occasional outdoor watering at any time using an attended, handheld hose. This provides for watering of landscape materials, container plantings and bird baths without risk of ticketing during mandatory restrictions.

For additional information regarding the Water Management Plan and other helpful tips on water conservation, please visit water.lincoln.ne.gov, or contact the Water Management Hotline at 402-441-1212.

Water Management Plan

Conservation Tips

Check household faucets and toilets for leaks. A faucet with even a slow drip takes 10 to 25 gallons of water per month. Just think, 15 drips per minute add up to almost 3 gallons of water wasted per day, 65 gallons wasted per month and 788 gallons wasted per year!

Keep showers to five minutes or less in length. A five-minute shower takes 10 to 25 gallons of water.

Install water saving plumbing fixtures.

Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. Then you won’t have to run tap water to cool it.

Use a broom to sweep your driveway, garage or sidewalk instead of using water.

Use a bucket of water to wash your bike or the family car, and rinse quickly with a hose.

Water your lawn in the evening or in the early morning to avoid evaporation. Be careful to water only the lawn and not the sidewalk or the street.

Use water only when you need it. Don’t leave water running, and be sure to turn it off when you are finished.

More water conservation tips

Cross-Connection Prevention

How can residents help protect our water?

You, our customers, also play an important role in protecting Lincoln’s drinking water. One way to help is by preventing “cross connections”, any connection between the drinking water supply and a source of possible contamination or pollution. Cross connections are controlled either by eliminating them or installing approved backflow prevention devices that stop contaminates from flowing back into the drinking water supply.

Typical backflow device for a lawn irrigation system.

Contaminants and pollutants can enter the drinking water supply when there is a sudden loss of pressure from heavy usage or a fire in the area of a broken water main. When that happens, contaminated water could be siphoned through the plumbing system into the public water mains. These pressure drops occur somewhere in the City almost every day. Backflow prevention devices are important in preventing contaminants from entering the water supply in these situations.

Every five years, property owners and tenants are required by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services regulations to inspect their plumbing systems and report any suspected or potential cross connections to Lincoln Water System. Residential and commercial customers are notified when a “premise survey” is required. These surveys must be completed and sent back to Lincoln Water System. All cross connections to the public water supply must be protected with a suitable backflow prevention device.

Property owners and tenants have the responsibility to identify if any cross connections exist on their property and to ensure they are properly protected with an approved backflow prevention device. Property owners and tenants must have these devices tested annually to ensure proper, continuous operation. A list of registered testers can be obtained from Lincoln Water System by calling 402-441-5912. The cost of the test is the responsibility of the owner. For more information on the cross connection program, visit the City’s website at water.lincoln.ne.gov.

Cross Connection Control Program

Lawn Irrigation Systems

The Lincoln Plumbing Code requires a backflow device on lawn irrigation systems. Backflow devices on lawn irrigation systems are exempt from annual testing. However, to ensure proper operation and to protect against contamination of the interior plumbing system, it is recommended these devices are also inspected and tested at regular intervals. Contact your local irrigation system contractor or plumbing contractor for additional information.

American Water Works Association - Nebraska SectionLincoln Water System is a proud member of AWWA

Lincoln Water System Facts

  • Lincoln Water System spent $1.42 million for electricity and diesel fuel to treat and pump water to Lincoln and another $1.32 million for electricity to distribute water to all parts of the City in 2020.
  • Each person in Lincoln used an average of 117 gallons of water every day in 2020.
  • The City of Lincoln covers an area of more than 100.1 square miles.
  • Lincoln Water System maintains 1,235 miles of water mains, 12,200 fire hydrants, and 28,500 valves.
  • 113 broken mains were repaired in 2020.
  • Water service lines between the main and private property are owned and maintained by the property owner.
  • Water temperature is affected by seasonal weather. In 2020, the coldest water measured at a tap in Lincoln was 47°F and the warmest was 77°F.

To Learn More

For answers to questions you may have or to learn more about the water you drink, call John Keith, Manager of Laboratory Services, Lincoln Water System, at 402-441-1622. This report and other information about water are available on the City’s website at water.lincoln.ne.gov.

Drinking water quality and the infrastructure required to deliver water to homes and businesses in Lincoln are essential to the community. The Lincoln Water System Facilities Master Plan, available at lincoln.ne.gov (search: water master plan) is a great way to learn more about Lincoln’s water system and its future plans for providing the community an adequate supply of high-quality drinking water. The Mayor and City Council make decisions regarding Lincoln Water System. To participate or provide input, contact your City Council representative. A list is available at council.lincoln.ne.gov.

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