Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
Omaha Water Authority
Omaha Water Authority delivers tap water graded D (62/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 486,000 residents in Omaha, Nebraska using surface water blended with groundwater from the Missouri/Platte Rivers. The most significant water quality concerns are: Lead detected in source water; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Chromium-6 detected; Radium-228 detected. For questions, the utility can be reached at (402) 476-1142.
Is Omaha tap water safe to drink?
Omaha Water Authority delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including lead detected in source water.
The utility serves 486,000 residents in Omaha, drawing from surface water blended with groundwater (Missouri/Platte Rivers) and disinfecting with free chlorine.
Public testing data identifies 21 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Arsenic, Arsenic, Arsenic, Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Nitrate, Radium-228, Radium-228, Radium-228, Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Nitrate, Nitrate, Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Chromium-6 (Hexavalent), Lead, Lead, Lead. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for Omaha Water Authority.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead detected at 2.0 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 5.95 ppb, 1488x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Chromium-6 detected
Moderate concernChromium-6 detected at 0.31 ppb.
Radium-228 detected
Moderate concernRadium-228 detected at 0.41 pCi/L.
Contact Omaha Water Authority
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Water Quality Contact
For questions about contaminants, test results, or your Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for Omaha
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for lead (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750When lead is a concern, use a filter certified for lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Reverse osmosis certified for chromium (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Chromium-6 needs reverse osmosis for reliable reduction. Standard carbon filters do not address it.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 62/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.95 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2023 | 1488× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.6 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2024 | 1150× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.06 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 2022 | 1015× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
63.3 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 106× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
53.9 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 90× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 75× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.39 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 64× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 63× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.11 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 61× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.3 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2024 | 24× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.44 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2023 | 23× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.437 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2022 | 23× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.41 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 2024 | 22× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.393 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2022 | 20× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.73 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2022 | 19× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.72 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 2023 | 19× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.355 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2023 | 18× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.31 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 2024 | 16× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.0 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2024 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
1.93 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2023 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.43 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | — |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
53.9 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 90× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 63× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.0 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.6 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 1150× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.41 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 22× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.31 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 16× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.3 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 24× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2023) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
63.3 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 106× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.39 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 64× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
1.93 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
5.95 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 1488× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.44 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 23× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.355 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 18× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.72 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 19× over |
| Contaminant | Detected (2022) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 75× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
6.11 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 61× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
2.43 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
4.06 ppb | 0.004 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | 1015× over |
| Radium-228 Radiological |
0.437 pCi/L | 0.019 | 5 | — | 0.1 | 0.019 | 23× over |
| Chromium-6 (Hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.393 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | 0.02 | 20× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.73 mg/L | 0.14 | 10 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | 19× over |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database, and Omaha Water Authority's Consumer Confidence Report.
Omaha Water Authority service area
This water system serves 1 community in Douglas County, Nebraska. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for Omaha water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.