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HARTINGTON — As part of an ongoing groundwater monitoring program, LCNRD is collecting irrigation and domestic well water samples this season to provide valuable information to landowners about their water quality. Landowners were notified at the beginning of the cycle, and once sampling is complete, results will be provided directly to each well owner.
Irrigation Well Owners
Managing nitrogen effectively starts with understanding the nitrate concentration in irrigation water, which helps account for fertilizer credits, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and protect groundwater resources. In Nebraska, the primary source of nitrate in groundwater is nitrogen fertilizer that has moved below the crop root zone; as University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension notes, “application of nitrogen fertilizers is a major source of nitrate-N in soils, vadose zone, and in groundwater in Nebraska.”
Samples are collected during the irrigation season, with water typically taken from a faucet at the well. If a faucet is not available, samples may be collected from a leak or sprinkler. If a faucet is needed, LCNRD will leave one at the well for installation. Landowners may choose to collect the sample themselves or opt out of sampling by contacting LCNRD. When the irrigation season is completed, landowners of the wells sampled will receive information including well registration details, legal description, nitrate concentration results, and supporting information about nitrate management.
Domestic Well Owners
Regular testing of your drinking water is important for protecting your health. High nitrate levels in drinking water are especially concerning for pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants under one year of age, and individuals with certain health conditions. The EPA drinking water standard for nitrate is 10 parts per million (ppm), and levels above this can pose health risks. If you use a private domestic well, contact LCNRD to schedule sampling. Samples can also be collected by the homeowner using a clean glass container, kept cold, and delivered to the LCNRD office at 608 N. Robinson Ave., Hartington.
If you are interested in testing your well for bacteria, a common contaminant is domestic wells, a specific sample bottle and sampling procedures must be followed. Bacteria testing bottles are available at LCNRD. A more comprehensive drinking water test is also recommended to evaluate additional groundwater characteristics and provide a better understanding of your water quality. Test kits are available at the LCNRD office for $77.00.
To have your well sampled or to learn more about groundwater sampling and your water quality results, contact LCNRD at 402-882-6758 or [email protected].
