Well Water Nerd

Well water in Seward County, Nebraska

In Seward County, 23% of 536 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.

536 individual samples from 306 wells, 1978 to 2025. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.

What individual samples found

Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside Seward 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
1978 to 2024
53694%23%3.698.210 mg/L
EPA limit

Sampled fewer than 10 times, too few to summarize: Uranium (5), Radon (3).

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What this means

The contaminants most often above their limit here are nitrate (23% of 536 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.

What to test for in Seward County

  • Nitrate23% of 536 local samples were above the limit.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • RadonMedian local reading is 340 pCi/L.

Treatment that fits the local profile

Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation

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What are you worried about?

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Common questions

How high is radon in well water in Seward County?

The median radon level across 3 public samples in Seward County was 340 pCi/L, with a high of 380 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.

How often should I test a private well in Seward 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: 534 samples in Seward 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: 10 samples in Seward 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.