Why does water hardness vary across Nebraska?

Water hardness varies across Nebraska because utilities can use different groundwater wells, reservoirs, treatment plants, blends, and distribution zones. Private wells can also differ from nearby municipal water.

What city in Nebraska has the hardest water?

Sumner has the hardest water among higher-confidence Nebraska city pages at 813 PPM. Check the city page for local systems and ZIP codes before making treatment decisions.

Does this include municipal water, well water, or both?

The state report combines public water system records, utility reports, and USGS monitoring where available. Municipal treated-water records are preferred when present. Private well hardness can vary at the address level and should be confirmed with a local test.

How many water systems are in Nebraska?

Nebraska has 585 active community water systems serving 516 cities.

Water Hardness in Nebraska

Average: 333 PPMVery Hard516 cities585 water systems

State report

Is Nebraska Water Hard or Soft?

Nebraska water is very hard on average at 333 PPM (19.5 GPG). Local readings can vary by utility, aquifer, treatment plant, and private well use.

State average

333 PPM

Very Hard

Local coverage

516 cities

585 water systems

Source profile

340 ZIPs

direct or USGS-backed

Nebraska has mixed source coverage across treated-water records, USGS monitoring, and estimated fallback values.

Methodology Data sources Search by ZIP code

State data profile

How to read the Nebraska results

State pages are screening and comparison hubs. They summarize ZIP, city, and water-system patterns so you can find the local page that best matches your home or utility.

Direct or USGS-backed ZIPs

340 of 569

60% use treated-water records or USGS monitoring.

Estimated ZIP values

229 ZIPs

40% use nearby, county, or state-level fallback values.

Dataset update

March 9, 2026

Source coverage and rollups are rebuilt from the public dataset.

Use the source coverage below to judge how much local confirmation a specific city or ZIP needs. The methodology page explains the source hierarchy, weighting, and limitations.

State Average

333 PPM

Very Hard

Coverage

516 cities

585 water systems in the state rollup.

Data Source Coverage

ZIP-level source mix for Nebraska; higher direct and USGS coverage means less reliance on regional estimates.

569 ZIPs covered

Verified treated water

Utility, CCR, or state treated-water records

18%

102 ZIPs

High-confidence USGS

Environmental monitoring matched to local systems

42%

238 ZIPs

Estimated

Nearby, county, or state-level fallback values

40%

229 ZIPs

In Nebraska, 18% of ZIPs use verified treated-water records, 42% use high-confidence USGS monitoring, and 40% use estimates that should be confirmed locally for treatment decisions.

What the Data Shows in Nebraska

Hard or very hard water is widespread in Nebraska, covering 65% of classified ZIPs.

Nebraska uses a mixed data profile across treated-water records, USGS monitoring, and estimated fallback values.

Use the city table below to compare local results. For estimated locations or unusually high readings, confirm with your utility or a home hardness test before sizing treatment equipment.

ZIP Hardness Distribution

Soft2% (12)

Slightly Hard14% (80)

Moderately Hard19% (108)

Hard12% (71)

Very Hard52% (298)

Treatment Takeaway

For many homes in Nebraska, hardness is high enough that scale buildup, fixture spotting, and appliance wear are realistic concerns. A local test is the best starting point before sizing a softener.

How to Use This Data

Use the source coverage above to decide how much local confirmation you need for a specific city or ZIP code.

Source-Backed Water Systems in Nebraska

Large systems with treated-water reports or USGS monitoring behind the state rollup.

Review source labels

Water system	Hardness	Source label	Population
Metropolitan Utilities District NE3105507 - Douglas County	140 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	660,000
Lincoln, City Of NE3110926 - Lancaster County	170 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	296,000
Grand Island, City Of NE3107902 - Hall County	200 PPM Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	51,478
Papillion, City Of NE3115313 - Sarpy County	140 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	35,000
Contempo Mhp NE3121507 - Lancaster County	170 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	1,630
Sarpy Co Sid 23 - Westmont Subdivision NE3115312 - Sarpy County	140 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	980
Maplewood Estates Mobile Home Park NE3120928 - Douglas County	140 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	805
Meadowbrook Estates Water System NE3121363 - Douglas County	140 PPM Moderately Hard	Annual Water Quality Report Verified - Annual Water Quality Report	675

Useful Nebraska City Pages

Shortcuts to city pages backed by more ZIP-code or water-system data.

Cities With More Local Data

Omaha

27 ZIPs · 7 systems

Moderately Hard (140 PPM)

Lincoln

20 ZIPs · 9 systems

Moderately Hard (170 PPM)

Papillion

5 ZIPs · 2 systems

Moderately Hard (140 PPM)

Moderately Hard (140 PPM)

Ulysses

2 ZIPs · 2 systems

Hard (188 PPM)

Prioritize cities with multiple ZIPs and systems, then use the local source badges to compare high-confidence USGS readings against estimated areas.

Top 10 Hardest Water Cities

#	City	Hardness
1	Sumner	Very Hard (813 PPM)
2	Blair	Very Hard (331 PPM)
3	Fremont	Hard (203 PPM)
4	Lincoln	Moderately Hard (170 PPM)
5	Gretna	Moderately Hard (166 PPM)
6	Papillion	Moderately Hard (140 PPM)
7	Bellevue	Moderately Hard (140 PPM)
8	Omaha	Moderately Hard (140 PPM)
9	Norfolk	Slightly Hard (88 PPM)

Top 10 Softest Water Cities

#	City	Hardness
1	Norfolk	Slightly Hard (88 PPM)
2	Bellevue	Moderately Hard (140 PPM)
3	Omaha	Moderately Hard (140 PPM)
4	Papillion	Moderately Hard (140 PPM)
5	Gretna	Moderately Hard (166 PPM)
6	Lincoln	Moderately Hard (170 PPM)
7	Fremont	Hard (203 PPM)
8	Blair	Very Hard (331 PPM)
9	Sumner	Very Hard (813 PPM)

All Cities in Nebraska

City pages marked Estimated use fallback values and should be confirmed with local testing or utility data.

AbieVery Hard AdamsVery Hard AgnewModerately Hard AinsworthSoft AlbionVery Hard AldaHard AlexandriaVery Hard AllenVery Hard AllianceVery Hard AlmaHard AlmeriaVery Hard AlvoVery Hard AmeliaSlightly Hard AmesHard AmherstVery Hard AngoraSlightly Hard AnsleyHard ArapahoeVery Hard ArcadiaModerately Hard ArcherSlightly Hard ArlingtonVery Hard ArnoldHard ArthurVery Hard AshbyVery Hard AshlandVery Hard AshtonHard AtkinsonSlightly Hard AtlantaVery Hard AuburnVery Hard AuroraVery Hard AvocaVery Hard AxtellVery Hard AyrVery Hard BancroftVery Hard BarnestonVery Hard BartlettSoft BartleyVery Hard BassettSoft Battle CreekSlightly Hard BayardSlightly Hard BeatriceVery Hard Beaver CityVery Hard Beaver CrossingHard BeeVery Hard BeemerVery Hard BeldenVery Hard BelgradeVery Hard BellevueModerately Hard BellwoodVery Hard BelvidereModerately Hard BenedictVery Hard BenkelmanVery Hard BennetModerately Hard BenningtonModerately Hard BertrandVery Hard Big SpringsVery Hard BinghamSlightly Hard BladenVery Hard BlairVery Hard BloomfieldVery Hard BloomingtonHard Blue HillVery Hard Blue SpringsVery Hard BoelusHard Boys TownModerately Hard BradshawVery Hard BradyVery Hard BrainardVery Hard BrewsterVery Hard BridgeportSlightly Hard BristowSlightly Hard BroadwaterHard BrockEstimatedVery Hard Broken BowHard BrownleeSoft BrownvilleVery Hard BruleVery Hard BruningVery Hard BrunoVery Hard BrunswickSlightly Hard BurchardVery Hard BurrVery Hard BurwellSoft BushnellSlightly Hard ButteSlightly Hard ByronVery Hard CairoHard CallawaySlightly Hard CambridgeHard CampbellVery Hard CarletonVery Hard CarrollVery Hard Cedar BluffsVery Hard Cedar CreekModerately Hard Cedar RapidsSlightly Hard CenterVery Hard Central CityVery Hard CerescoVery Hard ChadronSlightly Hard ChambersSlightly Hard ChampionHard ChapmanVery Hard ChappellEstimatedVery Hard ChesterVery Hard ClarksVery Hard ClarksonVery Hard ClatoniaVery Hard Clay CenterModerately Hard ClearwaterSlightly Hard CodySoft ColeridgeVery Hard ColonModerately Hard ComstockModerately Hard ConcordVery Hard CookVery Hard CordovaHard CortlandVery Hard CozadVery Hard Crab OrchardVery Hard CraigVery Hard CrawfordSlightly Hard CreightonVery Hard CrestonVery Hard CreteVery Hard CroftonVery Hard CrookstonSlightly Hard CulbertsonHard CurtisVery Hard Dakota CityVery Hard DaltonSlightly Hard DanburyVery Hard DannebrogHard DavenportVery Hard DaveyModerately Hard DawsonVery Hard DaykinVery Hard De WittVery Hard DecaturVery Hard DentonModerately Hard DeshlerVery Hard DeweeseVery Hard DickensVery Hard DillerModerately Hard DixSlightly Hard DixonVery Hard DodgeHard DoniphanHard DorchesterHard DouglasVery Hard Du BoisVery Hard DunbarVery Hard DuncanVery Hard DunningSoft DwightVery Hard EagleVery Hard EddyvilleVery Hard EdgarModerately Hard EdisonVery Hard ElbaHard ElginSoft Elk CreekVery Hard ElkhornModerately Hard EllsworthSlightly Hard Elm CreekVery Hard ElmwoodVery Hard ElsieVery Hard ElsmereVery Hard ElwoodVery Hard ElyriaVery Hard EmersonModerately Hard EmmetSlightly Hard EndersHard EndicottModerately Hard EricsonSlightly Hard EustisVery Hard EwingSlightly Hard ExeterVery Hard FairburyVery Hard FairfieldModerately Hard FairmontVery Hard Falls CityVery Hard FarnamVery Hard FarwellHard FilleyVery Hard FirthModerately Hard FordyceSlightly Hard Fort CalhounVery Hard FranklinHard FremontHard FriendHard FullertonVery Hard FunkVery Hard GarlandVery Hard GarrisonHard GenevaVery Hard GenoaSlightly Hard GeringSlightly Hard GibbonVery Hard GileadModerately Hard GiltnerVery Hard GlenvilVery Hard GoehnerHard GordonSoft GothenburgVery Hard GraftonHard Grand IslandHard GrantVery Hard GreeleySlightly Hard GreenwoodVery Hard GreshamVery Hard GretnaModerately Hard Guide RockVery Hard GurleySlightly Hard HaiglerEstimatedVery Hard HallamModerately Hard HalseyVery Hard HamptonVery Hard HardyModerately Hard HarrisburgSlightly Hard HarrisonVery Hard HartingtonVery Hard HarvardVery Hard HastingsVery Hard Hay SpringsSlightly Hard Hayes CenterHard HazardVery Hard HeartwellVery Hard HebronVery Hard HemingfordVery Hard HendersonVery Hard HendleyVery Hard HermanVery Hard HersheyVery Hard HildrethHard HolbrookVery Hard HoldregeVery Hard HollandModerately Hard HolsteinVery Hard HomerVery Hard HooperHard HordvilleVery Hard HoskinsVery Hard HowellsVery Hard HubbardVery Hard HubbellVery Hard HumboldtVery Hard HumphreyVery Hard HyannisSlightly Hard ImperialVery Hard InavaleVery Hard IndianolaVery Hard InlandVery Hard InmanSlightly Hard IthacaVery Hard JacksonVery Hard JansenModerately Hard JohnsonVery Hard JohnstownVery Hard JuniataVery Hard KearneyVery Hard KenesawVery Hard KennardVery Hard KeystoneVery Hard KilgoreSlightly Hard KimballSlightly Hard LakesideSlightly Hard LaurelVery Hard LawrenceVery Hard LebanonVery Hard LeighVery Hard LemoyneVery Hard LewellenVery Hard LewistonVery Hard LexingtonVery Hard LibertyVery Hard LincolnModerately Hard LindsayVery Hard LinwoodModerately Hard LiscoSlightly Hard LitchfieldHard LodgepoleSlightly Hard Long PineSoft LoomisVery Hard LouisvilleVery Hard Loup CityHard LymanSlightly Hard LynchSlightly Hard LyonsVery Hard MacyModerately Hard MadisonSlightly Hard MadridVery Hard MalcolmModerately Hard MalmoVery Hard ManleyVery Hard MarquetteVery Hard MarslandSlightly Hard MartellModerately Hard Mason CityHard MaxHard MaxwellVery Hard MaywoodHard Mc CookHard Mc Cool JunctionVery Hard McleanHard MeadVery Hard Meadow GroveSlightly Hard MelbetaSlightly Hard MemphisVery Hard MernaHard MerrimanSoft MilburnHard MilfordHard MillardModerately Hard MillerVery Hard MilliganVery Hard MillsSlightly Hard MinatareSlightly Hard MindenVery Hard MitchellSlightly Hard MonroeVery Hard MoorefieldHard MorrillSlightly Hard Morse BluffVery Hard MullenSoft MurdockVery Hard MurrayVery Hard NaperSlightly Hard NaponeeVery Hard Nebraska CityHard NehawkaVery Hard NelighSlightly Hard NemahaModerately Hard NenzelSlightly Hard NewcastleVery Hard Newman GroveSlightly Hard NewportSlightly Hard NickersonHard NoraVery Hard NorfolkSlightly Hard North BendHard North LoupSlightly Hard North PlatteVery Hard OakModerately Hard OakdaleModerately Hard OaklandVery Hard OcontoHard OdellVery Hard OdessaVery Hard Offutt A F BModerately Hard OgallalaVery Hard OhiowaVery Hard OmahaModerately Hard OneillSlightly Hard OngHard OrchardSlightly Hard OrdModerately Hard OrleansHard OsceolaHard OshkoshVery Hard OsmondVery Hard OtoeVery Hard OvertonVery Hard OxfordVery Hard PageSlightly Hard PalisadeHard PalmerVery Hard PalmyraVery Hard PanamaModerately Hard PapillionModerately Hard ParksHard Pawnee CityVery Hard PaxtonVery Hard PenderModerately Hard PeruVery Hard PetersburgVery Hard PhillipsVery Hard PickrellVery Hard PierceVery Hard PilgerVery Hard PlainviewSlightly Hard Platte CenterVery Hard PlattsmouthVery Hard Pleasant DaleHard PleasantonVery Hard PlymouthModerately Hard PolkVery Hard PoncaVery Hard PotterSlightly Hard PragueVery Hard PrimroseSlightly Hard PurdumVery Hard RalstonModerately Hard RandolphVery Hard RavennaVery Hard Red CloudVery Hard Republican CityHard RichlandVery Hard Rising CityHard RiverdaleVery Hard RivertonVery Hard RocaModerately Hard RockvilleHard RogersVery Hard RosalieVery Hard RoselandVery Hard RoyalSlightly Hard RuloVery Hard RushvilleSlightly Hard RuskinVery Hard Saint EdwardSlightly Hard Saint HelenaVery Hard Saint LiborySlightly Hard Saint PaulVery Hard SalemVery Hard SargentModerately Hard SaronvilleModerately Hard SchuylerVery Hard ScotiaSlightly Hard ScottsbluffSlightly Hard ScribnerHard SenecaVery Hard SewardVery Hard ShelbyHard SheltonVery Hard ShickleyHard ShubertVery Hard SidneySlightly Hard Silver CreekVery Hard SmithfieldVery Hard SnyderHard South BendVery Hard South Sioux CityVery Hard SpaldingSlightly Hard SparksSlightly Hard SpencerSlightly Hard SpringfieldModerately Hard SpringviewSlightly Hard StamfordHard StantonVery Hard StaplehurstHard StapletonSlightly Hard Steele CityModerately Hard SteinauerVery Hard StellaVery Hard SterlingVery Hard StockvilleVery Hard StrangModerately Hard StrattonVery Hard StromsburgVery Hard StuartSlightly Hard SumnerVery Hard SuperiorVery Hard SutherlandVery Hard SuttonHard SwantonVery Hard SyracuseVery Hard Table RockVery Hard TalmageEstimatedVery Hard TecumsehVery Hard TekamahVery Hard ThurstonModerately Hard TildenSlightly Hard TobiasVery Hard TrentonHard TrumbullVery Hard TryonVery Hard UehlingHard UlyssesHard UnadillaVery Hard UnionVery Hard UplandVery Hard UticaHard ValentineSlightly Hard ValleyModerately Hard ValparaisoVery Hard VenangoEstimatedVery Hard VerdelVery Hard VerdigreVery Hard VerdonVery Hard VirginiaVery Hard WacoVery Hard WahooVery Hard WakefieldVery Hard WallaceVery Hard WalthillModerately Hard WaltonModerately Hard WashingtonModerately Hard WaterburyVery Hard WaterlooModerately Hard WaunetaVery Hard WausaVery Hard WaverlyModerately Hard WayneVery Hard Weeping WaterVery Hard WellfleetVery Hard West PointVery Hard WesternVery Hard WestervilleVery Hard WestonVery Hard WhiteclaySlightly Hard WhitmanVery Hard WhitneyVery Hard WilberVery Hard WilcoxHard WilsonvilleVery Hard WinnebagoModerately Hard WinnetoonVery Hard WinsideVery Hard WisnerVery Hard WolbachSlightly Hard Wood LakeSlightly Hard Wood RiverHard WymoreVery Hard WynotVery Hard YorkVery Hard YutanVery Hard