Domestic Water Testing
Rural residents of Gosper, Phelps and Kearney counties can get their household drinking water tested free once a year through a program offered by Tri-Basin Natural Resources District.
Any district resident who has a private household water well can pick up a free water sampling kit at the Tri-Basin NRD office at 1723 Burlington in Holdrege.
Sample kits are also available at USDA-NRCS offices in Minden and Elwood. Samples are sent in a pre-paid mailer to Ward Laboratories in Kearney, where they are tested for nitrates and bacteria. Test results go to the Tri-Basin NRD office, where they are recorded in a water quality database. Results are forwarded to rural residents, along with information on protecting water quality. If you would like more information about this program, email Tri-Basin NRD at tribasin@tribasinnrd.org or call (877) 995-6688.
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources has published a series of NebGuides called "Protecting Private Drinking Water Supplies," designed to help rural families protect their drinking water. Click on one of these links to read the NebGuides: