The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) ensures that public water consumers have safe drinking water that meets all state and federal standards. Private drinking water wells, however, are not regulated by NDEE, and some could contain harmful levels of contaminants.

Private drinking water well owners should test their wells and consider point-of-use (POU) systems to treat or remove undesirable contaminants that may be present in their water. Point-of-use systems can be effective in the treatment or removal of nitrate, heavy metals, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and sediment among other contaminants.

A point-of-use system is installed in a specific location in a home, typically underneath the kitchen sink or directly to a faucet. They differ from point-of-entry systems that are utilized for whole-home treatment.
Point-of-use systems can utilize a wide array of methods to achieve various treatment results. Reverse osmosis, ion exchange, granular activated carbon, distillation, and ultraviolet light are all methods used in commercially available point-of-use systems.

Not every water treatment method can remove all contaminants and completely purify water, but according to the EPA, reverse osmosis systems are among the most comprehensive of the treatment methods available. Still, NDEE encourages private drinking water well owners to test their water and consult with a local water professional to determine which treatment method is most viable based on specific contaminants that may be present in their results. Additional details on private well testing can be viewed at https://dee.nebraska.gov/news-events/press-releases/sample-private-drinking-water-wells-annually

NDEE encourages residents to pursue a treatment system that is certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).

Once installed, it is critical that point-of-use water systems are maintained on a regular schedule. Reverse osmosis systems, for example, require regular filter and membrane changes to ensure optimal performance. Reference your system’s owner’s manual or consult a local water professional to determine a proper maintenance schedule.

While private well owners may see the biggest benefit from point-of-use treatment systems, some residents who get their water from public water systems may consider POU systems for their ability to manage water quality at more stringent levels than federal and state standards.

Some public water system users may also pursue POU systems to address aesthetic characteristics of their water. EPA has established a set of National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations. These secondary regulations set non-mandatory water quality standards for 15 contaminants that are not considered to present a risk to human health. The presence of these 15 secondary contaminants can result in undesirable taste, color, odor, or hardness; POU filters can often mitigate or alleviate these issues.

Public water system residents who opt to utilize a POU system do not need to test their water, but they can request a water quality report from their public water system to determine the most viable POU system for their water.