Bennington, NE: High Radon Risk — 70/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Bennington tap water earns a high safety grade — above-average compliance with NE and federal standards.
How Bennington Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Bennington Water
- Average lead level: 0.0016 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 15% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.67.
Who Supplies Your Water in Bennington
2 independent water providers serve Bennington, NE — 2 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Bennington, Nebraska (population ~18,360), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 660,300 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Bennington — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bennington: B (70/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Bennington water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0016 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68007 | B | METROPOLITAN UTILITIES DISTRICT | 660,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Bennington
- 68007 [B]
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Bennington
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Housing & Infrastructure in Bennington
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Although a small portion of Bennington's homes predate 1986, the median build year of 2001 indicates the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed after lead solder was banned — which tends to reduce the plumbing-related component of lead exposure at the household level.
Most homes in Bennington were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Bennington Homeowners
Because property values in Bennington comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Bennington are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,000 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 113% above the Nebraska average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Bennington
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Whenever aggregate samples pass the federal action benchmark and pre-rule housing — 15% in Bennington — represents a smaller fraction, lead occupies a lower priority on the local picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Bennington
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Bennington, that record documents 1 claim and 100% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Bennington has a moderate flood history with 1 FEMA claims averaging $28,395 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$3,000</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bennington, NE