Well Testing
Many cottage food producers do not use city water and have a well. They need to provide proof of private well water testing for contamination by nitrate or bacteria if the producer uses private well water to produce cottage foods. This needs to be done before registering as a cottage food producer. All private water supplies contain dissolved substances, and at high concentrations some may be harmful. Having your private drinking water supply tested for quality at an approved laboratory helps ensure that your private drinking water is safe.
It is recommended to annually test for nitrate & coliform bacteria, as well as any other contaminants of concern in your area. Contact your local Natural Resource District, Health Department, and/or a nearby community water system to inquire about the known water quality in your area. For more information on private wells and drinking water publications, check out UNL Extension’s water publications at: https://water.unl.edu/article/drinking-water/nebguides.
Helpful Resources
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services offers well water testing. Use their website to request a water sample test kit. There are also many private labs that test water.
Questions?
For questions about wells and drinking water feel free to reach out to any of the following Extension Educators on the Drinking Water team:
