About this list
- Agency
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Division of Public Health, Public Health Environmental Laboratory, Laboratory Certification
- Format
- PDF table (1 page): NE certification number, address and the certified analytes with their methods per lab; no phone numbers or expiry dates
- Homeowner flag
- Not stated in the list. DHHS's list names the labs it certifies for drinking water; it does not say which labs take samples from private well owners.
Old list. DHHS's list prints no date, but the PDF file itself was created in May 2024, more than a year before we fetched it on Nov 3, 2026. Labs and analytes on it may have changed since (editor, 2026-11-03).
Nebraska DHHS - Certified Laboratories (drinking water). Fetched 2026-11-07 (UTC).
Official sourceTesting your well in Nebraska
How often to test
- Nebraska Extension (NebGuide G907, revised December 2025) suggests testing private wells every year for coliform or E. coli bacteria and nitrate as general indicators of safety. It says these tests also should be considered after flooding or when you notice any change in taste, color or smell. [1]
- Nebraska Extension says to test for bacteria when users have repeated bouts of intestinal illness, when an infant, a person with a weakened immune system or an elderly person starts using the water, after repairs or changes to the well or water system, when starting a well that has not been used for a long time, and after shock chlorination. Test for nitrate when a pregnant woman, a woman planning a pregnancy, a nursing woman, an infant under 6 months old or a person with a weakened immune system starts using the water. [1]
- To judge year-round bacterial safety, Nebraska Extension suggests testing for bacteria in late spring or early summer during wet weather. Testing in very dry weather or when the ground is frozen may be less useful. [1]
Free testing
We found no statewide free testing program in Nebraska. Ask your county health department whether it runs one.
Testing programs and help
- For help choosing the right test for a particular water problem, the Nebraska Public Health Environmental Laboratory (NPHEL) directs private clients to the Drinking Water Program of the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE). [2]
- Nebraska Extension notes that local rules may be stricter than the state's. It suggests contacting your county and city health, environmental, zoning or planning departments about any local requirements for private water supply testing. [1]
Buying or selling a home
- UNL Water says testing private drinking water in Nebraska is not required by federal or state regulation, with some exceptions such as licensed childcare facilities and foster care homes. County or city jurisdictions may have requirements, and lenders may require a well water test when financing a property served by a private well. [3]
- For home loans, NPHEL says to check with the lender for the specific tests required, order sample kits as soon as possible, and allow at least a week and preferably two for results (up to two weeks when lead is requested). Total coliform samples must be received and tested within 30 hours of collection. [2]
State lab and rules
- The state lab, NPHEL (Nebraska DHHS), tests water for private clients. Samples must be collected in NPHEL sample kits, which you can order online or by phone. NPHEL publishes an Analyte/Price List and a Total Water Quality (New Well) fee list for the cost of new well testing. [2]
- NPHEL certifies labs to test drinking water, contaminant by contaminant. Nebraska Extension advises using a certified lab when you need accurate, reliable results and any time results might be used for legal action involving contamination. [1]
Show the numbers
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 53 counties | |
| Zone 2 | 24 counties | |
| Zone 3 | 16 counties |
Radon in indoor air, not in water. EPA: Zone 1 = highest potential (average indoor radon may be above 4 pCi/L); Zone 2 = 2 to 4; Zone 3 = below 2. EPA says the map should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing. Source: U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025), accessed 2026-11-01.
- Nebraska Extension, Drinking Water: Testing for Quality, NebGuide G907 (revised December 2025)
- Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Public Health Environmental Laboratory, Customer Service (Analyte/Price List page)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UNL Water, Drinking Water Testing
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025)
Loan test (FHA, VA, USDA) in Nebraska
- VA. Test results are valid for 90 days from the date the local health authority certifies them, unless the local authority says otherwise. VA’s chapter names no list of contaminants: the water must meet the local health authority’s requirements, or EPA guidelines where it has none. Your lender may ask for specific tests.
- FHA. A well test is required in the situations FHA’s handbook lists, among others, and the report may not be more than 180 days old at disbursement.
- USDA. Guaranteed loans need a water quality test for a private well, done by the local health authority or a state-certified lab, and no more than 180 days old at closing.
Lenders can ask for more (extra tests, a particular lab, who takes the sample): ask your lender before you book. Federal rules as read on Nov 3, 2026 source 1 source 2 source 3. Full comparison: VA, FHA and USDA well water test requirements. Loan test kits sold by mail, with price and days to results: kits compared.
What Nebraska labs say on their own websites
State lists say what a lab is certified for, not whether it takes your sample or what it costs. We read each lab’s own site; a second reader re-checked every fact below. 1 labs on this list are on our register so far; 0 say they take homeowner samples and 0 print a price.
Prices exactly as each lab prints them, read 15 Nov 2026; re-checked every 90 days. Labs not shown have not been read yet or print nothing for homeowners. Confirm price and turnaround with the lab.
Labs by contaminant
Labs on the Nebraska list for one test, with homeowner-accepting labs first.
Well water by county
Private-well population (USGS, 2015), arsenic estimate, radon zone and nearby labs for each county with at least 1,000 people on private wells, largest first.