Free Private Well Water Testing
It’s that time of year again! Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department is inviting private well owners to bring in a water sample for free testing throughout the month of May. Regular monitoring helps to ensure safe drinking water for you and your loved ones. When you bring a sample to one of our offices, we’ll provide paper-strip testing for nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates, plus additional well-testing resources.
Why test your well
Private wells are not automatically tested or treated like public water systems. Well owners are responsibile for making sure their drinking water is safe and free from contamination. Annual private well maintenance should include:
- Testing your water
- Checking that the wellhead is clean and sealed
- Inspecting the well and its components for visible damage
Testing Recommendations
Experts recommend testing private well water every year for nitrates and coliform baceteria (E. Coli). When you test your water, you are checking for germs that you can’t see or taste but can still make you sick. It’s important to complete this task every year since contamination sources can change over time, and results may reveal the need for additional well repairs.
Testing at a certified laboratory provides the most accurate results but at home test kits are still an option for completing regular, more affordable monitoring.
Water Sample Collection
To participate follow these steps:
1. Collect your water sample from the faucet in your home that you drink from most often.
2. Let the water run for at least 5 minutes to flush the system.
3. Fill a clean, sealed container with enough water to take a drink.
4. Bring your sample to one of the our health department locations during regular business hours:
- McCook Office: 404 West 10th Street, McCook, NE
- Ogallala Office: 10 North Spruce Street, Suite B, Ogallala, NE
Everyone deserves safe drinking water. Add water testing to your spring cleaning or seasonal checklist this year!
Serving Southwest Nebraska
SWNPHD proudly serves Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Keith, Perkins, and Red Willow counties—working every day to promote healthy families and strong communities.