States ›Nebraska ›Platte County ›Columbus

Columbus, NE Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Columbus, City Of PWSID: NE3114110 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 3.31 ppb, 22% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

C

Columbus earns a C for water quality

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

Lead: 3.31 ppb — 22% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
3 violations since 2015, 3 health-based
No violations currently open
Columbus's lead level vs. all Nebraska community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 3.31 ppb — 22% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 26% of Nebraska utilities
Population Served
23277
~9439 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
3 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
22% of EPA action level
3.31 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.
120% of EPA action level
1,560 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 3.31 ppb, 22% 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)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Arsenic MCL EXCEEDANCE 11 MG/L 0.010 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Arsenic MCL EXCEEDANCE 0.011 MG/L 0.010 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Coliform (TCR) MCL EXCEEDANCE — 5% of samples 2015 Archived
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

3 violations are on record since 2015, of which 3 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Columbus, City Of
PWSID NE3114110
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 23,277
Service connections 9,439
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 3.31 ppb, 22% of the action level.
Does Columbus water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Columbus? ▼
Columbus, City Of (PWSID NE3114110). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-06-05. Inspectors recorded 1 significant deficiency.

What Should Columbus Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
2
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.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in Nebraska

Humphrey, Ne Tap Water Quality 2026 Platte Duncan, Ne Tap Water Quality 2026 Platte Platte Center, Ne Tap Water Quality 2026 Platte Monroe, Ne Tap Water Quality 2026 Platte Lindsay, Ne Tap Water Quality 2026 Platte Creston, Ne Tap Water Quality 2026 Platte