Lincoln, NE: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 67/100
29 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lincoln: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Across Lincoln, EPA compliance data for NE sits at a moderate level - not alarming, but not uniformly clean across all service areas either.
How Lincoln Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Lincoln, NE
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Lincoln's 20 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Lincoln Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 1 violation in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0046 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 47% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,010 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.36.
Lincoln's Water Providers
Water supply in Lincoln, NE follows a divided structure: 3 utilities account for the largest share of residential service out of 5 total systems, each managing its own distribution network and EPA reporting. Because these systems operate independently, rate decisions and compliance outcomes are determined separately.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 29 ZIP codes in Lincoln, Nebraska, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 301,026 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 22 of 29 ZIP codes.
1 of 22 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (5%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lincoln: C (67/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Lincoln water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0046 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 22 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 29 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68507 | C | 1 | 1 | City of Lincoln, |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68502 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68503 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68504 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68505 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68506 | — | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68508 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68510 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68512 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68514 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
| 68516 | C | City of Lincoln, | 296,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Lincoln
- 68501
- 68502 [C]
- 68503 [C]
- 68504 [C]
- 68505 [C]
- 68506
- 68507 [C] - 1 violation ⚠
- 68508 [C]
- 68509
- 68510 [C]
- 68512 [C]
- 68514 [C]
- 68516 [C]
- 68517
- 68520 [C]
- 68521 [C]
- 68522 [C]
- 68523 [C]
- 68524 [C]
- 68526 [C]
- 68527 [C]
- 68528 [C]
- 68529
- 68531 [C]
- 68532
- 68542
- 68544
- 68583
- 68588 [C]
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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Lincoln Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Lincoln's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Lincoln Infrastructure Age
With 47% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
What does a median build year of 1986 mean for water safety in Lincoln? It means the housing stock straddles two key plumbing thresholds: the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in copper plumbing, and the pre-1970 era when lead pipes were commonly installed for service lines. A meaningful share of homes predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating varied risk levels across the city's housing inventory.
Most homes in Lincoln 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Lincoln
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Lincoln, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Lincoln are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,345–$2,717 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 41% above the Nebraska average.
Lincoln: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Wherever 47% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Lincoln - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Lincoln: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Lincoln contains 276 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,661. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 61% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
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. The <strong>$2,010</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Lincoln
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Arsenic can reduce the most common contaminant found in Lincoln's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 47% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lincoln, NE