Drinking Water and Wells

The University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Water, Climate and Health Program joined University of Nebraska Extension at Husker Harvest Days last month to engage with farmers, rural families and other Nebraskans about water quality and the potential impacts it can have on human health and agriculture.

Taylor Dahl, communications and community outreach specialist with the Water, Climate and Health Program, attended the event with Becky Schuerman, statewide extension associate for domestic water and wastewater management with Nebraska Extension.

Fall and winter gatherings are upon us and that often means a bustling house full of family, friends and preparation of tasty recipes in the kitchen. All of these things should make for joyful times, but they can potentially have a stressful impact on your private water well and onsite wastewater systems. This time of year also has a greater impact on municipal systems as well, so following the best daily practices below is a good idea for municipal customers, too. 

It is hard to believe that it is already fall! This means it is time for a fall inspection of your well, water treatment, and onsite septic systems and performing necessary maintenance when necessary. If you haven’t completed your annual water quality testing yet, order a test kit to collect your water samples for nitrate, total coliform, and any other contaminants of concern in your area. Taking the time to follow the Well & Septic Owner’s Checklist helps protect the health of your family and our groundwater resources.

Nebraska Extension is urging residents who rely on private wells for their drinking water to take immediate action to test their drinking water and treat any identified risks. Annual testing and recommended treatment is the only reliable way to ensure water safety and protect household health.

Well & Septic Owner’s Checklist

💧Inspect your wellhead and area around it in the spring and fall. Perform maintenance as necessary: 

Concord, Nebraska – March 25, 2026 – Join the Haskell Ag Lab and Nebraska Extension for Nitrate and Beyond: Ensuring your family has safe water on April 30, 2026, from 5:30 to 7pm.

Whether you rely on city water or draw from a private well, understanding how to test and treat drinking water for contaminants is essential for protecting your family’s well‑being. Join us for a community‑focused lecture that breaks down the hidden risks—like bacteria, nitrates, and other pollutants—and shows how proper testing and treatment can keep every household safe. 

Winter is on its way which means it is time to assess and insulate the pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic. Both plastic and copper pipes can freeze, and frozen water pipes affect folks who live in both cold and warmer climates. By conducting routine preventative maintenance, one can greatly reduce the risk of potentially expensive damage that frozen water pipes can cause.

Well & Septic Owner’s Checklist

💧Inspect your wellhead and area around it in the spring and fall. Perform maintenance as necessary: 

Those residences that are not served by a public water or rural water system need a source of water for both consumption and daily needs. A private well most often fulfills these needs. While the cost of drilling a well is a lesser expense in the overall purchase or building of a home, it is a necessary expense to provide the residence with a useable water supply and it adds value to the property.

Reviewing Your Water Needs

Mid-late spring or early summer is the prime time to conduct a private well maintenance check. Winter can be especially hard on outdoor systems; surfaces and landscaping that are subject to the elements. Getting in the habit of inspecting and maintaining your well system in the spring and the fall is a good habit to get into. It will help ensure everything operates efficiently and can potentially save you from shelling out money for costly repairs.

INSPECTION