Jefferson County, Nebraska
8 ZIP codes · Avg score 56/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Jefferson County's 8 ZIP codes, water safety results are uneven — a portion of systems carry active or recent violations, while others meet standards without issues.
How Jefferson County Compares
How Jefferson County Compares
Jefferson County scores 9 points below the Nebraska state average (65/100) and 12 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Jefferson County, Nebraska
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14 (asthma 9.2%, diabetes 13.4%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $978, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.453% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk
83.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Jefferson County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 14 total (14 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $978
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
3,663 housing units in Jefferson County
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 Jefferson County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Jefferson County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steele City, Village of | 60 | 16 |
| 2 | Endicott, Village of | 132 | 2 |
| 3 | City of Fairbury, | 3,707 | 1 |
| 4 | Little Blue Nrd Rwd 1 | 1,580 | 1 |
| 5 | Jansen, Village of | 99 | 1 |
10 total water systems serve Jefferson County.
All ZIP Codes in Jefferson County
8 ZIP codes tracked in Jefferson County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68352 | Fairbury | 68 | C | 1 | $123K |
| 2 | 68342 | Diller | 66 | C | 0 | $126K |
| 3 | 68424 | Plymouth | 66 | C | 0 | $144K |
| 4 | 68350 | Endicott | 64 | C | 1 | $77K |
| 5 | 68377 | Jansen | 64 | C | 1 | $85K |
| 6 | 68338 | Daykin | 55 | C | 0 | $111K |
| 7 | 68362 | Gilead | 40 | D | 0 | $55K |
| 8 | 68440 | Steele City | 24 | F | 16 (15 health) | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Jefferson County
Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 83.3% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Jefferson County, Nebraska
Overview
Jefferson County in Nebraska covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (56/100).
4 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 15 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Nebraska water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.