Certified labs by state
Nebraska
Nebraska’s current official guidance for private wells centers on routine nitrate and bacteria testing, because private domestic wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. DWEE also flags naturally occurring contaminants in parts of the state, including arsenic, uranium, selenium, and area-specific radon, and it recently completed a statewide nitrate study that included private-well outreach.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
Official resources in Nebraska
State lab page for ordering private-well sample kits and getting help interpreting private-well results.
Official Nebraska-certified lab list showing the labs, locations, certification numbers, and analytes.
Current DWEE private-well testing recommendation page, revised July 24, 2025.
State well program page for well construction standards, contractor licensing, and domestic-well inspections.
Official state nitrate-study hub with private-domestic-well resources, reports, and testing links.
Key facts for Nebraska
- Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health certifies drinking-water laboratories used for public-water compliance testing.
- Residents can find Nebraska’s certified drinking-water laboratory list on DHHS as a PDF titled certified labs.
- DWEE says private well owners should test annually; UNL specifically recommends annual nitrate and bacteria testing.
- DWEE says some areas of Nebraska have naturally occurring arsenic, uranium, and/or selenium in well water.
- DWEE says arsenic and radon are area-specific naturally occurring contaminants in Nebraska.
- DWEE’s free private-well nitrate sampling effort began in November 2023 and ended March 1, 2024; current statewide subsidized state testing program: null.
What to do next
- For routine Nebraska private-well screening, prioritize nitrate and coliform bacteria every year, then add other contaminants based on local geology, nearby land use, or a new water-quality problem.
- Free or low-cost options may be local rather than statewide: Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department says it offers free nitrate/nitrite paper strips, and some NRDs may offer private-well testing support.
Helpful guides
- How to choose a state-certified drinking water lab
- What to test your private well water for (and how often)
- How to collect a well water sample without ruining the test
- How to read a water test report: MCLs, units and flags