Scottsbluff, NE Water Safety: 81/100 (2026)
2 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Scottsbluff, EPA monitoring data shows low violation rates and healthy safety margins — a pattern that places the city well above NE's average for drinking water compliance across recent reporting cycles.
How Scottsbluff Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Scottsbluff Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0024 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.71 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Scottsbluff
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Scottsbluff, NE — out of 5 total systems in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 16,965 people.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Scottsbluff — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Scottsbluff: B (81/100)
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
Scottsbluff water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0024 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69361 | B | City of Scottsbluff, | 14,282 |
| 69363 | B | City of Scottsbluff, | 14,282 |
All ZIP Codes in Scottsbluff
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.
CDC Health Data for Scottsbluff
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
Scottsbluff: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Remediation costs in Scottsbluff are small relative to typical property values — the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Scottsbluff are relatively low compared to home values. The $400–$1,700 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 11% below the Nebraska average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Scottsbluff
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.
Lead risk in Scottsbluff appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Scottsbluff
Taken together, Scottsbluff's 48 NFIP flood insurance claims and 50% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Scottsbluff has a moderate flood history with 48 FEMA claims averaging $2,399 per payout. 50% 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>$1,000</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 Scottsbluff, NE