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    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001298341</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Nalco Holding CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NLC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001343564</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Fyrwald J Erik</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LILLY CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>INDIANAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46285</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Shares</value>
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            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9570</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>344408</value>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Shares</value>
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            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27070</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>371478</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18184</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <value></value>
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                </transactionShares>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18184</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>387755</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18185</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18185</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>405940</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18185</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18185</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>424125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares earned upon partial satisfaction of the performance criteria for the Performance Share Program 2008-2010 cycle of the Nalco Holding Company 2004 Stock Incentive Plan which will vest on 12/31/2010, subject to continued employment at vest date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Error on 2/3/2009 - shares reported as 74,960, when should have been 74,930.  This resulted in improper calculation of Shares Beneficially Owned on that and subsequent filings.  The number reported today is the correct amount of Shares Beneficially Owned as of 2/11/2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Granted pursuant to the Amended and Restated Nalco Holding Company 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.  The shares will vest on 2/28/2013, subject to continued employment at vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Granted pursuant to the Amended and Restated Nalco Holding Company 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, 2010 Stock Option Award.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Anne Marie Morris, as Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
