Statewide Compliance and Testing

• Overall Compliance: The majority of Nebraska’s 750+ public water systems meet federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, though 59 systems have recorded violations of the EPA nitrate standard since 2010, with ongoing monitoring of emerging contaminants like PFAS.
• PFAS Monitoring: Nebraska has implemented comprehensive PFAS testing under EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5, with three water systems testing above EPA maximum contaminant levels for PFAS compounds as of December 2024.
• Infrastructure Investment: Over $64 million in federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been allocated to Nebraska for water infrastructure improvements, including $18.9 million specifically for emerging contaminant testing and treatment.

Major Water Sources and Challenges

• Groundwater Dependence: Over 99% of Nebraska’s public water systems rely on groundwater from the High Plains Aquifer and other regional aquifers, making the state highly vulnerable to groundwater contamination from agricultural activities.
• Nitrate Contamination: Approximately 400,000 Nebraskans depend on domestic wells, with 40% of tested private wells containing nitrate above 3 ppm (considered safe for children) and 15% exceeding the federal drinking water standard of 10 ppm.
• Agricultural Impact: Nitrate contamination stems primarily from decades of nitrogen fertilizer application and concentrated animal feeding operations, with contamination expanding in eastern and central Nebraska’s corn-growing regions.

Emerging Contaminant Response

• PFAS Regulation Implementation: New EPA drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS (4 parts per trillion) take effect in 2029, requiring Nebraska’s three affected water systems to implement treatment upgrades and ongoing monitoring for all community water systems.
• Treatment Technology Deployment: Water utilities are implementing advanced treatment technologies including granular activated carbon and ion exchange systems to remove PFAS, while reverse osmosis systems are being promoted for domestic wells with nitrate contamination.
• Source Water Protection: NDEE has completed a statewide PFAS inventory identifying 990 potential source facilities and is conducting targeted sampling at military installations and industrial sites with known PFAS use history.

Rural and Agricultural Communities

• Domestic Well Vulnerabilities: Unlike public water systems, domestic wells lack regular testing requirements, with only 3,478 out of 29,000 well owners participating in recent state-sponsored testing programs, highlighting awareness gaps in rural areas.
• Nitrogen Reduction Programs: The 2024 Nitrogen Reduction Incentive Act provides up to $15 per acre for farmers who reduce nitrogen application by 40 pounds per acre or 15%, with targeted funding for high-priority contamination areas.
• Natural Resources District Management: Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts implement groundwater quality management through voluntary best management practices, wellhead protection areas, and targeted regulatory programs in high-nitrate areas.

Looking Forward: 2025-2030

Nebraska’s water quality landscape faces critical decisions as the state balances agricultural productivity with drinking water safety. The expansion of nitrate contamination in groundwater requires sustained commitment to nitrogen management, while new PFAS regulations demand significant infrastructure investments from water utilities. Federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides unprecedented opportunities to address both legacy contamination and emerging threats. However, success will require enhanced coordination between agricultural producers, Natural Resources Districts, water utilities, and state regulators to implement effective source water protection measures while ensuring continued access to safe, affordable drinking water for all Nebraskans, particularly the 400,000 residents relying on private wells that lack regulatory oversight.