Well Water Nerd

Well water in Cheyenne County, Nebraska

In Cheyenne County, 5% of 185 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.

185 individual samples from 126 wells, 1952 to 2024. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.

What individual samples found

Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Cheyenne County. 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.

ContaminantSamplesDetectedAbove limitMedianHighestLimit
Nitrate
1979 to 2024
185100%5%2.434.910 mg/L
EPA limit

Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Arsenic (3), Uranium (4), Fluoride (2), Radon (4), Chloride (4), Manganese (2), Sodium (2).

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What this means

The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (5% of 185 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 is widespread in local groundwater. It is mainly a staining and taste problem, but high manganese also carries a health advisory for infants.

What to test for in Cheyenne County

  • Nitrate5% of 185 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • RadonMedian local reading is 295 pCi/L.
  • ArsenicAbove the limit in 2 of 3 local samples; too few to quote a rate.
  • FluorideDetected in 100% of local samples.
  • ChlorideDetected in 100% of local samples.

Treatment that fits the local profile

Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
Fluoride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
Chloride
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Distillation

Get your Cheyenne County water tested at home

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What are you worried about?

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Common questions

Is there arsenic in well water in Cheyenne County?

Arsenic was detected in 100% of 3 public well samples in Cheyenne County, and 67% 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 Cheyenne County?

The median radon level across 4 public samples in Cheyenne County was 295 pCi/L, with a high of 610 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.

How often should I test a private well in Cheyenne County?

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.

Sources

  • Nebraska Groundwater Quality Clearinghouse: 180 samples in Cheyenne County. 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: 26 samples in Cheyenne County. 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.