Water Hardness in Nebraska
Across 9 measured cities — with 187 more covered by labeled county-level estimates — Nebraska's median tap water hardness is 215.0 mg/L (12.6 gpg): very hard on the USGS scale. Below: every covered city, the state's hardest and softest water, and the geology that explains it.
Data updated July 6, 2026. Sources: utility-reported water quality data and USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal samples.
Nebraska Cities by Hardness Category
Measured cities only — labeled county estimates never enter the category counts or the median.
| Category | Range | Measured cities | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft | 0-60 mg/L | 0 | 0.0% |
| Moderately hard | 60-120 mg/L | 1 | 11.1% |
| Hard | 120-180 mg/L | 3 | 33.3% |
| Very hard | >180 mg/L | 5 | 55.6% |
Hardest and Softest Water in Nebraska
Measured values only; labeled county estimates and values under active dispute never rank.
Hardest water in Nebraska
- Central City — 419.0 mg/L (24.5 gpg), very hard
- Oakland — 401.0 mg/L (23.4 gpg), very hard
- Dodge — 360.0 mg/L (21.1 gpg), very hard
- Fairbury — 235.0 mg/L (13.7 gpg), very hard
- Lincoln — 215.0 mg/L (12.6 gpg), very hard
Softest water in Nebraska
- Boys Town — 118.0 mg/L (6.9 gpg), moderately hard
- Omaha — 148.9 mg/L (8.7 gpg), hard
- Bellevue — 172.0 mg/L (10.1 gpg), hard
- Offutt AFB — 172.0 mg/L (10.1 gpg), hard
- Lincoln — 215.0 mg/L (12.6 gpg), very hard
Every Covered City in Nebraska
All 196 covered Nebraska cities, sorted by population served. "County estimate" rows are labeled context values from USGS/EPA Water Quality Portal county sampling — they never enter the median above. City names link to each city's full water quality page.
| City | Hardness (mg/L) | gpg | Category | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 148.9 | 8.7 | Hard | Utility-reported |
| Lincoln | 215.0 | 12.6 | Very hard | Utility-reported |
| Grand Island | 314.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Papillion | 234.0 | 13.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Kearney | 219.0 | 12.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Fremont | 315.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hastings | 331.0 | 19.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| North Platte | 211.0 | 12.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Columbus | 306.0 | 17.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Scottsbluff | 208.0 | 12.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| South Sioux City | 441.0 | 25.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Beatrice | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Plattsmouth | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Gering | 302.5 | 17.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Nebraska City | 287.9 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Auburn | 367.5 | 21.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Aurora | 359.5 | 21.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Oakland | 401.0 | 23.4 | Very hard | Utility-reported |
| Waverly | 305.0 | 17.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Cozad | 355.0 | 20.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Murray | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Fairbury | 235.0 | 13.7 | Very hard | Utility-reported |
| Broken Bow | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Gothenburg | 355.0 | 20.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| West Point | 369.0 | 21.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Ashland | 181.0 | 10.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Minden | 260.0 | 15.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Valley | 274.5 | 16.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Central City | 419.0 | 24.5 | Very hard | Utility-reported |
| Hickman | 305.0 | 17.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| David City | 227.0 | 13.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Valentine | 89.0 | 5.2 | Moderately hard | County estimate |
| Kimball | 168.0 | 9.8 | Hard | County estimate |
| Beemer | 369.0 | 21.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Wymore | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Tecumseh | 281.1 | 16.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Geneva | 301.0 | 17.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Madison | 201.0 | 11.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Murdock | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Ord | 332.0 | 19.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Milford | 151.0 | 8.8 | Hard | County estimate |
| Dakota City | 441.0 | 25.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Imperial | 146.0 | 8.5 | Hard | County estimate |
| Superior | 296.0 | 17.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Wilber | 225.0 | 13.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Syracuse | 287.9 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Tekamah | 366.0 | 21.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Gibbon | 219.0 | 12.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Elmwood | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Macy | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Pierce | 348.0 | 20.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Ainsworth | 77.6 | 4.5 | Moderately hard | County estimate |
| Mitchell | 208.0 | 12.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Albion | 252.0 | 14.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Neligh | 191.0 | 11.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Stanton | 333.0 | 19.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hebron | 321.0 | 18.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Springfield | 234.0 | 13.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Bridgeport | 224.0 | 13.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Gordon | 89.0 | 5.2 | Moderately hard | County estimate |
| Ravenna | 219.0 | 12.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Wakefield | 249.0 | 14.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Sutton | 280.0 | 16.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hartington | 244.0 | 14.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Boys Town | 118.0 | 6.9 | Moderately hard | Utility-reported |
| Arlington | 528.0 | 30.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Fullerton | 303.0 | 17.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Louisville | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Atkinson | 86.4 | 5.0 | Moderately hard | County estimate |
| Waterloo | 274.5 | 16.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Plainview | 348.0 | 20.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| North Bend | 315.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Yutan | 181.0 | 10.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Wisner | 369.0 | 21.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Winnebago | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Battle Creek | 201.0 | 11.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Wood River | 314.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Bayard | 224.0 | 13.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Grant | 156.5 | 9.2 | Hard | County estimate |
| Stromsburg | 308.5 | 18.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Creighton | 245.5 | 14.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Weeping Water | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Pender | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Burwell | 179.5 | 10.5 | Hard | County estimate |
| Cambridge | 189.0 | 11.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Eagle | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Shelton | 219.0 | 12.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Henderson | 308.0 | 18.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Alma | 237.0 | 13.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Loup City | 237.5 | 13.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Arapahoe | 390.0 | 22.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Bloomfield | 245.5 | 14.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Red Cloud | 323.0 | 18.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Fort Calhoun | 528.0 | 30.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Harvard | 280.0 | 16.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Morrill | 208.0 | 12.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Blue Hill | 323.0 | 18.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Kenesaw | 331.0 | 19.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Axtell | 260.0 | 15.2 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Peru | 367.5 | 21.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Scribner | 315.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hooper | 315.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Doniphan | 314.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Elwood | 234.0 | 13.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Minatare | 302.5 | 17.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Cairo | 314.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Juniata | 331.0 | 19.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Shelby | 308.5 | 18.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Union | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Alda | 314.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Dodge | 360.0 | 21.1 | Very hard | Utility-reported |
| Overton | 355.0 | 20.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| De Witt | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Mead | 181.0 | 10.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Greenwood | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Sargent | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Callaway | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Homer | 441.0 | 25.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Gretna | 234.0 | 13.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Palmer | 285.0 | 16.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Ansley | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Elkhorn | 274.5 | 16.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Bellwood | 227.0 | 13.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hampton | 359.5 | 21.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Giltner | 359.5 | 21.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Eustis | 189.0 | 11.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Lyman | 302.5 | 17.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Plymouth | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Duncan | 306.0 | 17.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Phillips | 359.5 | 21.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Brady | 211.0 | 12.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Rising City | 227.0 | 13.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hildreth | 236.0 | 13.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Clarks | 285.0 | 16.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Merna | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Wilcox | 236.0 | 13.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Polk | 308.5 | 18.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Platte Center | 306.0 | 17.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Johnson | 367.5 | 21.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Odell | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Blue Springs | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Glenvil | 280.0 | 16.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Clatonia | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Maxwell | 211.0 | 12.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Dannebrog | 116.0 | 6.8 | Moderately hard | County estimate |
| Snyder | 315.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Chapman | 285.0 | 16.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Monroe | 306.0 | 17.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Diller | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Nehawka | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Roseland | 331.0 | 19.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Uehling | 315.0 | 18.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Emerson | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Jackson | 441.0 | 25.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hubbard | 441.0 | 25.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Bellevue | 172.0 | 10.1 | Hard | Utility-reported |
| Offutt AFB | 172.0 | 10.1 | Hard | Utility-reported |
| Roca | 305.0 | 17.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Garland | 151.0 | 8.8 | Hard | County estimate |
| Raymond | 305.0 | 17.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Sumner | 355.0 | 20.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Creston | 306.0 | 17.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Pickrell | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Craig | 366.0 | 21.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Trumbull | 280.0 | 16.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Denton | 305.0 | 17.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Nemaha | 367.5 | 21.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Rosalie | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Mason City | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Farnam | 189.0 | 11.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Daykin | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Davey | 305.0 | 17.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Oconto | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Stella | 276.0 | 16.1 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Hordville | 359.5 | 21.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Upland | 236.0 | 13.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Filley | 56.9 | 3.3 | Soft | County estimate |
| Brock | 367.5 | 21.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Cedar Bluffs | 181.0 | 10.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Brownville | 367.5 | 21.5 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Endicott | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Marquette | 359.5 | 21.0 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Jansen | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Memphis | 181.0 | 10.6 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Comstock | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Anselmo | 186.5 | 10.9 | Very hard | County estimate |
| South Bend | 288.0 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Lexington | 355.0 | 20.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Reynolds | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Steele City | 165.0 | 9.7 | Hard | County estimate |
| Smithfield | 234.0 | 13.7 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Julian | 287.9 | 16.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Moorefield | 211.0 | 12.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Franklin | 236.0 | 13.8 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Pawnee City | 263.0 | 15.4 | Very hard | County estimate |
| Sutherland | 211.0 | 12.3 | Very hard | County estimate |
Above 120 mg/L (7 gpg), scale is usually worth treating — see our water softener guide, or size a system with the hardness calculator & converter.
The Geology Behind Nebraska's Water Hardness
Nebraska sits in the Great Plains and interior lowlands region.
The Great Plains and interior lowlands are underlain by carbonate rock, gypsum, and other evaporite deposits, and the semi-arid climate concentrates dissolved minerals rather than flushing them out. Aquifers like the High Plains (Ogallala) yield water the USGS classifies as hard to very hard across most of the region, from the Dakotas down through Texas. Surface-water systems fed by plains rivers carry much of the same mineral load.
Source: USGS - High Plains aquifer
Nebraska Water Hardness FAQ
Does Nebraska have hard water?
Yes — across Nebraska's measured cities, typical tap water is hard. The median is 215.0 mg/L (12.6 gpg) — very hard on the USGS scale, where anything above 120 mg/L (7 gpg) counts as hard. 8 of Nebraska's 9 measured cities fall in the hard or very hard bands (89%), so check your own city rather than the state average.
How hard is tap water in Nebraska?
Across the 9 Nebraska cities with measured values in our index, the median hardness is 215.0 mg/L (12.6 gpg) — very hard on the USGS scale. Individual cities range from 118.0 to 419.0 mg/L, so check your own city rather than assuming the state number.
Which city in Nebraska has the hardest water?
Central City has the hardest measured tap water in our Nebraska index at 419.0 mg/L (24.5 gpg) — very hard on the USGS scale. Rankings use measured utility values only; labeled county estimates and values under active dispute are excluded.
Do I need a water softener in Nebraska?
8 of Nebraska's 9 measured cities (89%) fall in the hard or very hard bands — above 120 mg/L (7 gpg), the level where most water treatment professionals suggest considering an ion-exchange softener. Hardness varies utility to utility, so look up your own city's value before sizing equipment.
How do I find my city's exact water hardness?
Enter your ZIP code in our free lookup at tapwaterdata.com/zip to see the value we hold for your Nebraska city from utility-reported water quality data, check your water utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), or use a home test-strip kit.
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