Well & Septic Owner’s Checklist

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

• Make sure secure cap, vent, an electrical conduit are undamaged and secured.
• Keep sources of contamination away from it. 
• Make sure your wellhead is at least 12” above grade and the ground around it is sloped away with no depressions where water can sit stagnant. 
• Keep tree plantings away from your well and water line locations. 
• Check all hydrants, faucets, and water pipes to make sure none are leaking, or busted from freezing up over the winter.
• Properly fix/replace, and if necessary, winterize in the fall. 

💧At the same time, inspect your onsite septic system. The same rules apply for Lateral and Mound Systems:

• Vehicles and other heavy objects kept from drainfield and septic tank.
• Animal confinement areas not located over drainfield and septic tank.
• No sidewalks, drives, patios located over drainfield and septic tank.
• No buildings located over drainfield and septic tank.
• Perennial grass cover maintained; no trees or bushes should be planted over or near a drainfield.

💧If a lagoon system: 

• Keep fence around the lagoon intact and maintained.
• Maintain a 2 feet minimum operating depth of wastewater at all times.
• Keep grass on berm mowed and no trees should grow on the berm or in the lagoon.
• Keep aquatic vegetation in lagoon managed to allow good airflow and sunlight to reach the water surface.

💧Inspect water treatment systems making sure they are not leaking and operating properly.

💧Review recommended maintenance procedures and filter/media replacement for water equipment according to the manufacturer’s specifications. This includes water softeners, filtration systems, and water heaters. Water heaters should be drained/flushed annually.

💧Test for Nitrate & Coliform bacteria annually – best in spring. 

💧Be aware of other possible contaminants of concern in your area. Your local NRD, health department, or nearby community water supply can be great sources for this information.

💧If in doubt about issues, contact your licensed water well contractor or certified onsite wastewater professional to make the necessary repairs.

Compliments of University of Nebraska Extension's Domestic Water/Wastewater Management Program 

Becky Schuerman / 402-441-7180 / bschuerman3@unl.edu

_{Rev. 02/2026}