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.

Water is called the universal solvent because it can dissolve more substances than just about any other liquid. Thus, all water contains dissolved substances it picked up from what it was in contact with. Unfortunately, some of these substances are harmful. The vast majority of these water contaminants that raise health risks are tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Just because your water tastes good and is crystal clear doesn’t mean it is safe to consume. The only way to know is through testing.

Water Testing

Unlike public water systems, which are regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and tested regularly for dozens of contaminants, private wells are not subject to required standards. This leaves you solely responsible for identifying and treating potential contamination.

Nebraska Extension recommends that private well owners:

• Test annually for nitrate and coliform (E. coli bacteria) 

• Test other common water health hazards, including arsenic, uranium, manganese, and selenium, which occur in many regions of the state. Lead can also potentially be picked up in the home's plumbing system.

• Test when infants, pregnant women, elderly individuals, or immunocompromised persons will start consuming the water.

• Optionally test for cosmetic concerns like staining or odor, such as hardness, iron, sulfur, and copper.

• Inspect and test after flooding, heavy rainfall, wildfire, well repairs, or plumbing changes.
• Inspect the above ground parts of your well for damage and keep the vegetation mowed around the area to limit root growth around the well and help prevent any wildfire damage. Also, make sure the soil is higher around the well head area and no wildlife has been digging in the area so surface water will drain away.
• Treat your drinking water for any identified health hazards.

While public water supplies are regulated and routinely tested, Nebraska Extension notes that regulatory standards do not guarantee zero risk. Residents are encouraged to review annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) provided by their local water systems to decide if you would like to add additional water treatment to your home for health or cosmetic concerns. The report can usually be found online or at your city office. The CCR can also help local private well owner decide what they may want to test for.

Residents are encouraged to use laboratories certified by the Nebraska Public Health and Environmental Laboratory (402- 471- 8407), particularly when results will inform health decisions or significant investments in water treatment. Home test kits and screening services may provide initial insights but are not a substitute for certified laboratory analysis. 

Drinking Water Treatment

If your private well test results come back with levels that put your family at risk, investing in water treatment is essential to protecting your family health. The type of treatment equipment must be matched to the contaminants and the levels the test results show; that is the reason testing is so important.

Reverse osmosis (RO) filtration plus a carbon filter is an option that removes a wide variety of contaminants like nitrate, arsenic, uranium, etc. for reasonable cost. RO systems can be installed by a plumber or some are designed to be homeowner installed. Look for a certified system that meets the capacity your test indicated. 

A basic system is installed under the kitchen sink. However there are upgrades that can make the system more convenient: 

1. For faster filling and larger storage: Purchase a larger pressure tank (for example a 20-gallon tank) 
2. For access across the home: Run connections to each sink and the refrigerator. 
3. For better taste: Add minerals back, such as a remineralization cartridge on the system.

The State of Nebraska offers a RO tax credit, and some Natural Resources Districts (NRDs) offer cost share options.

Also, marking your calendar to do the regular maintenance on the equipment is just as important. Maintenance should include the procedures described in the manual that came with the equipment. This can include inspecting the equipment, replacing filters annually, cleaning, etc. Periodic monitoring to ensure the treatment is working is also advised. For example, if you have a RO unit to remove nitrate, inexpensive nitrate test strips can be purchased to test the water before and after the RO membrane to determine if it is working correctly. The RO unit does not remove 100 % of the nitrate, but you should see a marked decrease, and it should be less the 10 ppm.

This is about prevention. Ensuring safe water is one of the most basic and important actions you can take to protect your family.

For more information visit your local Nebraska Extension office or: https://go.unl.edu/drinking_water