Monitoring Issues SCHOOL DISTRICT

Lincoln Public Schools Water Quality (NE) - C

29 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · 7,992,607 people served · Updated 2026-07-23

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA drinking-water data for Lincoln Public Schools: 23 EPA violations recorded in the past five years.

Data: EPA SDWIS, NCES Last verified: 2026-07-23

C · 66
Avg Safety Score
29
ZIP Codes
14
Water Systems
23
Violations (5yr)
0.0041 mg/L
Avg Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk

Why School Water Quality Matters

Children drink 2–4× more water per pound of body weight than adults, making them more vulnerable to contaminants. School water quality affects students for hours every weekday.

Water Quality Overview

The Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska spans 29 ZIP codes served by 14 community water systems, providing water to approximately 7,992,607 people.

The average Home Safety Score across the district is C (66/100)

  • with the lowest-scoring area at 53/100 .

Water quality in this district falls in the bottom 56% nationally.

Why This Matters for Children

Children are more vulnerable to water contaminants than adults. The EPA and CDC identify these key risks:

  • Lead exposure - Even low levels of lead can affect brain development, reduce IQ, and cause behavioral problems in children. There is no safe level of lead for children.
  • PFAS ("forever chemicals") - Linked to immune system effects and developmental delays in children. Children drink more water relative to body weight than adults.
  • Nitrate - Dangerous for infants (can cause "blue baby syndrome"). Agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate.
  • Disinfection byproducts - Long-term exposure may increase cancer risk. School water fountains often have stagnant water that concentrates these compounds.

Lead Levels in the District

Metric Value EPA Threshold
Average lead level (90th percentile) 0.0041 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
Highest lead level 0.0053 mg/L 0.015 mg/L
ZIP codes exceeding EPA action level 0 of 29 -

EPA Violation History

23 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants of Concern

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 23 No 23

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High risk)

29 of 29 ZIP codes are in the highest radon risk zone. Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer in the U.S. - homes and school buildings in Zone 1 should be tested.

Water Quality by ZIP Code

ZIP Code City Safety Score Violations Health Lead Level Exceeds?
68502 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68503 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68504 Lincoln C (60) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68505 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68506 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68507 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68508 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68510 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68512 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68514 Lincoln C (66) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68516 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68517 Lincoln C (66) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68520 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68521 Lincoln C (65) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68522 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68523 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68524 Lincoln C (66) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68526 Lincoln C (66) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68527 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68528 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68531 Lincoln B (70) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68532 Lincoln C (66) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68588 Lincoln C (66) 1 0 0.00441 mg/L No
68336 Davey C (66) 0 0 0.00107 mg/L No
68339 Denton C (69) 0 0 0.00528 mg/L No
68402 Malcolm C (66) 0 0 0.00095 mg/L No
68404 Martell D (53) 0 0 — —
68430 Roca B (70) 0 0 0.00075 mg/L No
68461 Walton D (53) 0 0 — —

Water Systems Serving This District

Water System Population Served Source ZIP Codes
LINCOLN, CITY OF 296,000 Surface water 68336, 68339, 68430 +24 more
City of Crete, 7,566 Groundwater 68339
City of Hickman, 3,300 Groundwater 68430
Contempo Mhp 1,630 Surface water 68502, 68503, 68504 +20 more
Malcolm, Village of 457 Groundwater 68402
Roca, Village of 222 Groundwater 68430
Denton, Village of 190 Groundwater 68339
Lancaster Company Sid 3 - Holland 190 Groundwater 68430

14 water systems total serve this district.

Lead Risk Assessment

Lead risk: ELEVATED. 10 ZIP codes in this district have high lead exposure risk scores based on housing age and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Risk Factors

Risk Factor District Average Why It Matters
Housing built before 1986 48.4% Lead solder was used in plumbing until 1986
Housing built before 1950 13.4% Lead pipes were common before 1950
Lead service line probability 13.9% Estimated chance of lead pipes connecting homes to water mains
Average lead level (90th pctl) 0.0041 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L
Highest measured lead level 0.0053 mg/L EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L

Schools built before 1986 are especially at risk. Lead can leach from older pipes, fixtures, and solder joints into drinking water — particularly when water sits in pipes overnight or over weekends.

Detailed Violation History

Contaminant Category Total Violations Health-Based ZIPs Affected
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 23 No 23

Most Recent Violations

  • Violation in ZIP 68502 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 68503 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 68504 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 68505 (Unknown date) — Unresolved
  • Violation in ZIP 68506 (Unknown date) — Unresolved

Is the Water Safe at Lincoln Public Schools Schools?

Several factors warrant attention for families in the Lincoln Public Schools area:

  • 48.4% of buildings in this district predate 1986, increasing the risk of lead in school plumbing.

Important context: EPA compliance data measures water quality at the utility level. Individual school buildings — especially older ones — may have additional risks from internal plumbing, lead fixtures, and stagnant water in pipes.

What Parents Should Do

Testing

  1. Request your school's water testing results. Under the EPA's 3Ts program, schools are encouraged to test drinking water. Ask the Lincoln Public Schools school board for the most recent results.
  2. Test your home water. If your home was built before 1986, lead may be present in your plumbing. Free or low-cost test kits are often available from your water utility.

Advocacy

  1. Attend school board meetings and ask about the district's water quality testing schedule and remediation plans.
  2. Request lead fixture replacement if your child's school was built before 1986 and hasn't upgraded its plumbing.

Resources

ZIP Code Reports for This District

What Parents Can Do

  1. Request lead testing at your child's school - The EPA's 3Ts program (Training, Testing, Taking Action) provides guidance for schools. Ask your school board about their water testing schedule.
  2. Review the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) - Your water utility publishes this annually. It details all detected contaminants.
  3. Test your home's water - Especially if your home has older plumbing (pre-1986) that may contain lead solder or lead pipes.
  4. Pack water from home - If you're concerned about school water quality, send your child with a water bottle filled at home (filtered if possible).
  5. Stay informed - Bookmark this page to check for updates on water quality in your school district.

Need help with school water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the water safe in Lincoln Public Schools schools?

Based on EPA data, water systems serving Lincoln Public Schools have no health-based violations in the past 5 years. However, school buildings with older plumbing may still have localized issues. Testing at the tap (not just at the treatment plant) is important.

Does Lincoln Public Schools test for lead in school water?

Federal law does not require schools to test for lead in drinking water (except in some states with specific mandates). The EPA's voluntary 3Ts program encourages testing. Contact your school district office to ask about their testing schedule and results.

What level of lead is safe for children?

There is no safe level of lead for children, according to the CDC. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L (15 ppb) triggers corrective action for water systems, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that school water contain no more than 0.001 mg/L (1 ppb).

Data Sources

Updated daily.

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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Lincoln Public Schools Water Quality (NE) - C. https://zipcheckup.com/schools/lincoln-public-schools-ne/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-schools-lincoln-public-schools-ne,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Lincoln Public Schools Water Quality (NE) - C}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/schools/lincoln-public-schools-ne/}
}

Data as of July 2026.

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