Well and wastewater maintenance essential for landowners

Proper maintenance of wells and wastewater systems is a necessary topic for property owners to master if they want to avoid unpleasant consequences. Becky Schuerman, Extension associate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who manages the water and wastewater program for the entire state of Nebraska, gave a webinar June 19 on how to avoid those problems.

She opened with a quote from famed explorer and hydrologist Jacques Cousteau, “We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one.”

Schuerman began with a brief tutorial on aquifers. Nebraska sits atop the largest segment of the Ogallala Aquifer, as well as some smaller aquifers, and is blessed with water resources compared to some other Midwestern states. It also enjoys state water policies that have become models for other states. Schuerman explained that aquifers are not underground lakes, as some still think, but consist of water dispersed in porous rock and sand layers whose void spaces are connected according to permeability and flow. Since all groundwater is connected, contamination in one area could affect wide areas.

A good septic system protects surface water and ground water in the vicinity. Onsite septic systems installed on or after June 12 must meet minimum state regulations; counties may have their own stricter requirements. They must be installed by a certified installer and have a capacity of at least 1,000 gallons. A septic tank uses settling and allows anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that don’t need oxygen) to break down waste. The liquids have a bottom sludge layer and a top scum layer; in a properly designed system, the pump accesses only the middle layer of water, not the scum or sludge layers. The effluent must get additional treatment in a drainage field, mound system or lagoon.

Systems must be regularly pumped and owners should keep records. Pumping may need to happen every year, or in some cases every two or three years. “Rid-X cannot replace pumping,” Schuerman said. 

Tanks and baffles should be regularly inspected by a professional. No vehicles or heavy equipment should be parked on a drainage field, and no stone or concrete structures should be placed on it. Perennial grass cover is best, but do not use woody-rooted plants. It’s OK to use a small mower to keep the grass under control, she said.

Any lagoon should be fenced and have a warning sign. “Air and sunlight must flow” as part of the treatment, so vegetation around a lagoon must be controlled.

A good well includes a (drilled) bore hole, well casing, well screen, gravel pack, annular fill, usually bentonite or a bentonite mixture, around the casing (that must extend at least 2 inches in Nebraska), primary and surface seals, and a well cap. Submersible pumps are most efficient for deeper wells, and may last 20 or 25 years. Variable-frequency drives can reduce wear and tear and power consumption.

Pressure tanks store water under pressure, often using a vinyl bladder, and are pressurized by an air fill valve on top.  Pre-pressurizing a tank to 20 pounds per square inch and setting the pressure switch to between 20 to 40 psi lessens the volume per pump cycle by half.

A well head should be at least 12 inches above grade, and the well itself should be sited on gently sloping land not vulnerable to flooding or contamination. Landscaping should not be sloped toward the well-head. Choose drought-tolerant plant and lawn options around a well-head.

Well samples should be tested for coliform bacteria and forever chemicals at a certified state laboratory (there are six facilities in Nebraska); there is a 30-hour window between collection and valid testing.

Property owners need to have accurate maps of everything on their property. When a property is sold, the seller has 60 days to file a change of well ownership with the Department of Natural Resources. Owners should keep records of any effluent dispersal system. Driven sandpoint wells are no longer legal in Nebraska and must be reported.

Abandoned wells can pose a hazard and be a liability. In Nebraska, a licensed water well contractor should be hired to de-commission any disused water wells. There is a state program that covers 75% of the cost.

Schuerman’s webinar is available at https://cap.unl.edu/well-wastewater-maintenance-webinar-2025/.

David Murray can be reached at [email protected].