Well water in Nebraska
In Nebraska, 20% of 26,562 tested well samples exceeded the EPA limit for nitrate (10 mg/L), based on public data from Nebraska Groundwater Quality Clearinghouse and USGS Water Quality Portal.
26,562 individual samples from 12,889 wells, 1947 to 2026. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Nebraska. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.
| Contaminant | Samples | Detected | Above limit | Median | Highest | Limit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 1947 to 2025 | 26,562 | 93% | 20% | 2.4 | 260 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1954 to 2026 | 1,388 | 96% | 8% | 2.94 | 273 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1969 to 2023 | 92 | 96% | 8% | 4 | 17.2 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 1981 to 2015 | 282 | 95% | 0% | 0.31 | 3.9 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1947 to 2023 | 105 | 99% | 0% | 0.31 | 2 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radon 1991 to 2008 | 908 | 100% | no limit | 360 | 4,190 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline | |
| Sodium 1948 to 2023 | 100 | 99% | no limit | 21.5 | 290 | 20 mg/L health guideline | |
| Chloride 1951 to 2023 | 100 | 100% | no limit | 11 | 106 | 250 mg/L nuisance level | |
| Manganese 1949 to 2023 | 95 | 73% | no limit | 20 | 19,500 | 300 ug/L health guideline | |
| Iron 1949 to 2022 | 93 | 65% | no limit | 17.7 | 7,800 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: PFOA (5), PFOS (5), Nitrite (6).
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (20% of 26,562 samples), uranium (8% of 1,388 samples), and arsenic (8% of 92 samples). A well next door can differ sharply from yours because bedrock fractures, well depth and plumbing all matter, so these rates describe the area, not your tap.
Chloride, Manganese, and Iron are widespread in local groundwater. They are mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.
What to test for in Nebraska
- Nitrate20% of 26,562 local samples were above the limit.
- Uranium8% of 1,388 local samples were above the limit.
- Arsenic8% of 92 local samples were above the limit.
- Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
- RadonMedian local reading is 360 pCi/L.
- PFOAAbove the limit in 1 of 5 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
- PFOSAbove the limit in 1 of 5 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
Treatment that fits the local profile
- Nitrate
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
- Uranium
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Whole-house anion exchange
- Arsenic
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Chloride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation
Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Nebraska?
Arsenic was detected in 96% of 92 public well samples in Nebraska, and 8% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How high is radon in well water in Nebraska?
The median radon level across 908 public samples in Nebraska was 360 pCi/L, with a high of 4,190 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Nebraska?
Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.
Counties in Nebraska
- Adams8% nitrate
- Antelope26% nitrate
- Banner1% nitrate
- Blaine2% nitrate
- Boone9% nitrate
- Box Butte7% nitrate
- Boyd63% nitrate
- Brown14% nitrate
- Buffalo8% nitrate
- Burt21% nitrate
- Butler31% nitrate
- Cass17% nitrate
- Cedar34% nitrate
- Chase6% nitrate
- Cherry5% nitrate
- Cheyenne5% nitrate
- Clay15% nitrate
- Colfax23% nitrate
- Cuming16% nitrate
- Custer13% nitrate
- Dakota13% nitrate
- Dawes6% nitrate
- Dawson9% nitrate
- Deuel15% nitrate
- Dixon44% nitrate
- Dodge21% nitrate
- Douglas9% uranium
- Dundy25% nitrate
- Fillmore27% nitrate
- Franklin12% nitrate
- Frontier9% nitrate
- Furnas22% nitrate
- Gage17% nitrate
- Garden29% nitrate
- Garfield6% nitrate
- Gosper8% nitrate
- Greeley26% nitrate
- Hall28% nitrate
- Hamilton31% nitrate
- Harlan29% nitrate
- Hitchcock22% nitrate
- Holt22% nitrate
- Howard2% nitrate
- Jefferson19% nitrate
- Johnson23% nitrate
- Kearney26% nitrate
- Keith12% nitrate
- Keya Paha6% nitrate
- Kimball3% nitrate
- Knox32% nitrate
- Lancaster8% nitrate
- Lincoln8% uranium
- Logan0% nitrate
- Loup0% nitrate
- Madison12% nitrate
- McPherson0% nitrate
- Merrick60% nitrate
- Morrill18% nitrate
- Nance44% nitrate
- Nemaha33% nitrate
- Nuckolls32% nitrate
- Otoe35% nitrate
- Pawnee39% nitrate
- Perkins1% nitrate
- Phelps32% nitrate
- Pierce27% nitrate
- Platte43% nitrate
- Polk37% nitrate
- Red Willow33% nitrate
- Richardson34% nitrate
- Rock12% nitrate
- Saline17% nitrate
- Sarpy13% nitrate
- Saunders23% nitrate
- Scotts Bluff27% nitrate
- Seward23% nitrate
- Sheridan14% nitrate
- Sherman14% nitrate
- Sioux6% nitrate
- Stanton30% nitrate
- Thayer16% nitrate
- Thomas2% nitrate
- Thurston23% nitrate
- Valley9% nitrate
- Washington16% nitrate
- Wayne14% nitrate
- Webster19% nitrate
- Wheeler18% nitrate
- York33% nitrate
4 counties have fewer than 30 public samples and are included in the Nebraska totals above rather than shown separately: Arthur, Grant, Hayes, Hooker.
Sources
- Nebraska Groundwater Quality Clearinghouse: 26,388 samples in Nebraska. Groundwater quality results compiled by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, University of Nebraska and Nebraska Department of Agriculture in the Groundwater Quality Clearinghouse, contributed by Natural Resources Districts and state agencies. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 3,353 samples in Nebraska. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.