Kearney, NE Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Kearney, NE — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Kearney's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Kearney, City Of PWSID: NE3101906 Updated: 2026 Q2

✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 5.48 ppb, 37% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

Kearney earns a C for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 5.48 ppb — 37% of the federal action level

PFAS tested, none detected

1 violations since 2015, 1 health-based

No violations currently open

Kearney's lead level vs. all Nebraska community water systems

0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb

Lead level: 5.48 ppb — 37% of the federal action level

✓ Lower lead than 12% of Nebraska utilities

Population Served

28394

~10974 connections

Water Source

Surface water

Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water — SDWIS source code GU

Active Violations

1 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)

90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system

37% of EPA action level

5.48 ppb

Action level: 15 ppb

Copper (Cu)

90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.

115.2% of EPA action level

1,498 ppb

Action level: 1,300 ppb

The 90th-percentile lead result is 5.48 ppb, 37% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

Contaminant	Type	Measured	Limit	Period	Status
TTHM	MCL EXCEEDANCE	0.081 MG/L	0.080 mg/L	2016	Resolved

Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

1 violations are on record since 2015, of which 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Kearney, City Of

PWSID NE3101906

Water source Surface water — Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water — SDWIS source code GU

Population served 28,394

Service connections 10,974

Systems serving this area 1

Regulator State primacy agency

Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kearney tap water safe to drink? ▼

No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 5.48 ppb, 37% of the action level.

Does Kearney water have PFAS? ▼

It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.

Who supplies water to Kearney? ▼

Kearney, City Of (PWSID NE3101906). Surface water. Groundwater under the direct influence of surface water — SDWIS source code GU

When was this system last inspected? ▼

It was last inspected on 2026-02-10. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Kearney Residents Do?

Consider a filter certified for lead

Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.

Check for a lead service line

Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.

Flush before drinking

If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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