Well water in Kearney County, Nebraska
In Kearney County, 26% of 298 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.
298 individual samples from 105 wells, 1948 to 2025. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Kearney 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.
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What this means
The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (26% of 298 samples) and uranium (21% of 14 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.
Iron 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 Kearney County
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
- Fluoride
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Activated alumina; Distillation
- Iron
- Oxidizing filter whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Aeration plus filtration
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Common questions
Is there arsenic in well water in Kearney County?
Arsenic was detected in 100% of 1 public well samples in Kearney County, and 0% 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 Kearney County?
The median radon level across 2 public samples in Kearney County was 385 pCi/L, with a high of 430 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in Kearney 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: 298 samples in Kearney 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: 24 samples in Kearney 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.