COUNTY REPORT NE

Harlan County, Nebraska

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 66/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Based on current EPA data, Harlan County's 6 ZIP codes reflect fair but mixed water safety.

How Harlan County Compares

Harlan County66/100
Nebraska avg65/100
National avg68/100

How Harlan County Compares

C
County Grade
66/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems

Harlan County scores 1 points above the Nebraska state average (65/100) and 2 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
66
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 68920 (66/100)
Lowest ZIP: 68969 (64/100)
$114K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Avg Remediation (105% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Harlan County, Nebraska

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 14 (asthma 9.1%, diabetes 13%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $697, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.395% avg pipe failure probability, 67% of ZIPs at high risk

78.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 9.1% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 35.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1950
Median Build Year
78.6%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
67%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $697

Energy Code Gap $405/yr
Water / Lead $292/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

2,296 housing units in Harlan County

Pre-1940 27%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 24%
1980–1999 18%
2000+ 14%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Harlan County

$114K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation Cost
1.1%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Harlan County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Harlan County residents

Asthma 9.1% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 35.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Harlan County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Ragan, Village of 25 1
2 City of Alma, 1,043 0
3 Lower Republican Rwd 1 200 0
4 Orleans, Village of 239 0
5 Oxford, Village of 719 0

9 total water systems serve Harlan County.

All ZIP Codes in Harlan County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Harlan County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 68920 Alma 66 C 0 $167K
2 68966 Orleans 66 C 0 $75K
3 68967 Oxford 66 C 0 $114K
4 68971 Republican City 66 C 0 $168K
5 68977 Stamford 66 C 0 $72K
6 68969 Ragan 64 C 1

Recommended Buyer Guides for Harlan County

Strictly editorial — no paid placements influence which guides appear; the selection draws on NSF certifications and EPA detection records for water systems serving this county.

Overview

Harlan County in Nebraska covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (66/100).

1 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Nebraska water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Harlan County?
Harlan County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Harlan County?
Harlan County is served by 9 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Harlan County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Harlan County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $697 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Harlan County?
The median home build year in Harlan County is 1950. 78.6% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Harlan County compare to Nebraska?
Harlan County has an average water safety score of 66/100, which is above the Nebraska state average of 65/100.

Get safety alerts for Harlan, Nebraska

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.