Coliform Bacteria Water Testing Labs in Nebraska (5 state-certified labs)

How many labs test for coliform bacteria in Nebraska

5 labs on Nebraska's official drinking-water lab list are certified to test for coliform bacteria. All 5 are named for coliform bacteria on the list. The Nebraska list does not say which labs take samples from homeowners, so call a lab before you send one.

The list is published by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Division of Public Health, Public Health Environmental Laboratory, Laboratory Certification. List version on file: no date printed; PDF created 2024-05-22 (file metadata). Fetched 2026-11-07 (UTC).

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 labs certified for coliform bacteria

How the Nebraska list marks public samples (whole list). 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.

Before you send a sample, call the lab to confirm it is currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Status can change between list updates.

Why test for coliform bacteria in Nebraska

About a third of the 397 domestic wells tested for bacteria in a national USGS study had total coliform. Read our coliform bacteria explainer.

EPA advises private-well owners to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. [1]

Nebraska guidance that mentions coliform bacteria:

• 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. [2]
• 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. [2]
• 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. [2]
• 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. [3]

About 171,440 people in Nebraska used private wells in 2015, by the USGS estimate of people on domestic self-supplied water. [4] Federal limits are written for public water systems, not private wells, so testing is up to the owner.

For tests that depend on your home (farms nearby, old plumbing, a new baby), use the which-tests checklist. When results arrive, check your numbers against EPA's limits. State guidance, county data and every lab: Nebraska.