Quick answer
About 233,000 people in Nebraska (12.7% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment runs the state’s private well guidance. We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in Nebraska. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
- People on private wells
- 232,542
- Share of residents
- 12.7%
- Rank among states
- 40th
- Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
- 4.7%
Where to get your well tested in Nebraska
- Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment: Water Well Standards and Contractors' Licensing Program, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
- Well water testing in Nebraska: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
Free or low-cost testing
We didn’t find a free statewide program in Nebraska. Certified labs charge per test; county health departments sometimes offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
Mail-in lab kits are another option when no local lab is convenient. See well water test kits for what home kits can and can’t tell you.
What to test for
- Every year: total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
- Before buying equipment: pH, hardness, iron, manganese and, if there’s a smell, hydrogen sulfide.
- Based on location: arsenic, uranium and radon, PFAS, and lead in older plumbing.
Private wells by county
Estimated people relying on private wells in each Nebraska county in 2010, the share of residents that represents, and the modeled share of well users with arsenic above 10 µg/L. These are USGS model estimates (2010 population), not measurements of any well. Arsenic is hidden for counties with fewer than 500 well users.
| County | People on wells | Share | Arsenic >10 µg/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | 15,870 | 5.6% | 4.2% |
| Lincoln County | 8,999 | 24.8% | 6.5% |
| Hall County | 8,056 | 13.7% | 3.4% |
| Scotts Bluff County | 7,782 | 21.0% | 5.0% |
| Buffalo County | 7,231 | 15.7% | 5.3% |
| Washington County | 6,873 | 34.0% | 3.8% |
| Platte County | 6,811 | 21.1% | 4.7% |
| Douglas County | 6,651 | 1.3% | 3.9% |
| Saunders County | 6,627 | 31.9% | 4.8% |
| Sarpy County | 6,399 | 4.0% | 3.0% |
| Gage County | 5,053 | 22.6% | 3.5% |
| Dodge County | 4,804 | 13.1% | 4.2% |
Show all 93 counties
| Holt County | 4,518 | 43.3% | 5.7% |
| Madison County | 4,349 | 12.5% | 4.1% |
| Seward County | 4,334 | 25.9% | 4.0% |
| Cass County | 4,329 | 17.2% | 3.2% |
| Dawson County | 4,311 | 17.7% | 4.6% |
| Adams County | 3,956 | 12.6% | 3.5% |
| Custer County | 3,722 | 34.0% | 4.3% |
| Merrick County | 3,475 | 44.3% | 2.6% |
| York County | 3,382 | 24.7% | 3.0% |
| Cedar County | 3,244 | 36.6% | 2.0% |
| Pierce County | 3,218 | 44.3% | 3.6% |
| Butler County | 3,165 | 37.7% | 4.1% |
| Saline County | 3,055 | 21.5% | 4.2% |
| Hamilton County | 2,887 | 31.6% | 3.0% |
| Keith County | 2,850 | 34.1% | 11.0% |
| Colfax County | 2,759 | 26.2% | 6.2% |
| Howard County | 2,719 | 43.3% | 4.4% |
| Knox County | 2,717 | 31.2% | 2.9% |
| Antelope County | 2,594 | 38.8% | 4.6% |
| Cherry County | 2,296 | 40.2% | 8.6% |
| Cuming County | 2,288 | 25.0% | 3.4% |
| Wayne County | 2,271 | 23.7% | 2.0% |
| Sheridan County | 2,260 | 41.3% | 10.9% |
| Polk County | 2,204 | 40.8% | 2.5% |
| Dawes County | 2,197 | 23.9% | 6.4% |
| Stanton County | 2,193 | 35.8% | 4.5% |
| Dakota County | 2,120 | 10.1% | 4.2% |
| Kearney County | 2,106 | 32.5% | 4.0% |
| Dixon County | 2,105 | 35.1% | 2.0% |
| Boone County | 2,099 | 38.1% | 5.0% |
| Phelps County | 1,977 | 21.5% | 5.9% |
| Burt County | 1,949 | 28.4% | 4.4% |
| Morrill County | 1,865 | 37.0% | 9.0% |
| Box Butte County | 1,824 | 16.1% | 7.9% |
| Nuckolls County | 1,764 | 39.2% | 4.0% |
| Red Willow County | 1,726 | 15.6% | 4.0% |
| Cheyenne County | 1,687 | 16.9% | 6.0% |
| Jefferson County | 1,649 | 21.9% | 3.0% |
| Fillmore County | 1,540 | 26.1% | 3.5% |
| Clay County | 1,521 | 23.2% | 3.4% |
| Otoe County | 1,477 | 9.4% | 3.5% |
| Thurston County | 1,431 | 20.6% | 2.0% |
| Valley County | 1,346 | 31.6% | 3.9% |
| Richardson County | 1,302 | 15.6% | 2.7% |
| Sherman County | 1,235 | 39.2% | 5.0% |
| Chase County | 1,222 | 30.8% | 4.0% |
| Webster County | 1,182 | 31.0% | 4.0% |
| Furnas County | 1,154 | 23.3% | 4.0% |
| Nance County | 1,114 | 29.8% | 4.0% |
| Thayer County | 1,114 | 21.3% | 3.7% |
| Perkins County | 1,088 | 36.6% | 4.0% |
| Harlan County | 1,047 | 30.6% | 4.0% |
| Brown County | 1,031 | 32.8% | 11.0% |
| Garden County | 1,020 | 49.6% | 20.0% |
| Hitchcock County | 982 | 33.8% | 4.0% |
| Gosper County | 969 | 47.4% | 5.0% |
| Johnson County | 954 | 18.3% | 3.2% |
| Frontier County | 939 | 34.1% | 4.0% |
| Sioux County | 915 | 69.8% | 5.0% |
| Franklin County | 853 | 26.4% | 3.0% |
| Greeley County | 853 | 33.6% | 6.0% |
| Nemaha County | 844 | 11.6% | 3.0% |
| Dundy County | 795 | 39.6% | 4.0% |
| Kimball County | 780 | 20.4% | 6.0% |
| Garfield County | 751 | 36.7% | 12.0% |
| Rock County | 736 | 48.2% | 11.0% |
| Hayes County | 732 | 75.7% | 4.0% |
| Banner County | 617 | 89.4% | 5.0% |
| Loup County | 588 | 93.1% | 13.0% |
| Wheeler County | 551 | 67.3% | 12.0% |
| Keya Paha County | 516 | 62.6% | 3.0% |
| McPherson County | 507 | 94.1% | 15.0% |
| Deuel County | 490 | 25.3% | – |
| Arthur County | 450 | 97.8% | – |
| Thomas County | 441 | 68.1% | – |
| Pawnee County | 433 | 15.6% | – |
| Boyd County | 427 | 20.3% | – |
| Logan County | 386 | 50.5% | – |
| Grant County | 374 | 60.9% | – |
| Blaine County | 355 | 74.3% | – |
| Hooker County | 160 | 21.7% | – |
Counties with the highest modeled arsenic share: Garden County (20.0%), McPherson County (15.0%), Loup County (13.0%), Garfield County (12.0%), Wheeler County (12.0%).
After you get results
Enter your numbers in the test results tool to see what needs treating and in what order. The guide to reading a well water test explains units and limits.
Common questions
Does Nebraska offer free well water testing?
We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in Nebraska. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
Who oversees private wells in Nebraska?
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (Water Well Standards and Contractors' Licensing Program) publishes guidance for private well owners. Private wells aren’t covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so testing and treatment are up to the owner.
How many people use private wells in Nebraska?
USGS estimates about 233,000 people, or 12.7% of the population in 2010. That ranks 40th of the states covered by the estimate.
What should I test my well for in Nebraska?
Test every year for total coliform bacteria and nitrate, plus pH, hardness, iron and manganese before buying equipment. Ask the state program or a certified lab about local concerns such as arsenic, uranium or PFAS.
Sources
- Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment: Water Well Standards and Contractors' Licensing Program
- Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment: well water testing
- USGS data release: domestic well locations and populations served, 2000 and 2010 (Johnson, Belitz and Lombard, 2019)
- CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking: private well water data (from USGS)