If you own a private drinking water well in Nebraska, the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) recommends you test your well annually. This isn't a requirement; DWEE doesn't regulate private wells, but it's a smart way to understand your water quality and make informed choices.

While you can test anytime, DWEE suggests doing it in the spring and avoiding summer, aiming for roughly the same time each year.

What to Look For: Bacteria and Nitrate

When testing your well, it's a good idea to check for two main things: bacteria and nitrate. You can easily get sample kits online from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. A kit for bacteria costs $17, and a nitrate test kit costs $16. You can find all prices on the Nebraska Public Health Environmental Lab’s website: Public Health Environmental Lab

Understanding Bacteria

The lab will specifically look for coliform bacteria. These bacteria naturally live in the digestive systems of both humans and animals. While some coliform are harmless and even helpful, others, like E. coli, can make you sick.

If any coliform bacteria show up in your water sample, it’s a warning sign. It could mean there's a problem with your well’s structure or a source of contamination nearby. For a quick fix, you can boil your water for one minute before drinking or cooking to kill the bacteria. However, this is just a temporary solution. You should have a certified well contractor inspect your drinking water source right away to find and fix the root cause.

Dealing with Nitrate

Nitrate is found naturally in the environment, but it also comes from fertilizers and animal or human waste. If it's in your drinking water, it most likely is caused by nitrates seeping into the aquifer affecting the groundwater.

It’s crucial to know that if your well tests high for nitrate, you should not boil your water! Boiling causes some water to evaporate, which concentrates the nitrate and makes the problem worse.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a regulatory limit called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL for nitrate in public water supplies at 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L). This same level is used as a recommendation for private well owners, even though private wells aren't regulated by the EPA or DWEE.

High levels of nitrate can be particularly dangerous, especially for formula-fed infants. It can also affect children and adults with certain health conditions like anemia, digestive distress, cardiovascular disease, sepsis, or other metabolic disorders. When the body can't properly process nitrate, it can interfere with oxygen absorption, lower blood pressure, increase heart rate, and lead to serious illness.

If your private well tests show nitrate levels above 10 mg/L, DWEE suggests finding a different source of drinking water or installing a special home treatment system, such as reverse osmosis or ion exchange. Again, boiling water will not remove nitrates.

By testing your private well every year, you can stay informed about your water and make the best decisions for your health and safety. For more information on nitrates, bacteria, and other harmful contaminants such as lead, arsenic, and manganese, visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | US EPA