FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2023
NDEE Extends Private Well Reverse Osmosis Rebate Program
The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has extended the Private WellReverse Osmosis Rebate Program.
The initial application period opened January 1, 2023 and closed March 31, 2023. Upon reaching the initial close date of March 31, 2023, NDEE received 92 applications requesting $211,071 of the $1.2 million allocated to the program, so funding remains available.
Applications will now be accepted and reviewed for consideration on a month-to-month basis. Submitted applications will be given equal consideration as long as funding for the program remains available in the month in which the application is submitted.
Participation in the rebate program still requires pre-approval from NDEE. The installation of any reverse osmosis small water treatment system cannot begin until a rebate agreement is signed between the private well owner and NDEE.
Private well reverse osmosis system rebates are available to property owners of private wells with drinking water test levels above 10 parts per million (ppm) of nitrate. Applicants will be eligible for up to $4,000 in rebates per small treatment installation that is effective in the removal of nitrate to a level below 10 ppm. Testing costs, purchase price of the system, and installation costs are eligible expenses that can be included in a rebate application.
This rebate program is being funded through $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which is part of a larger $4 million ARPA initiative administered by NDEE as authorized by the 2022 Legislature.
Applicants will need to ensure that their well is registered with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. A water well registration document can be downloaded from the Department of Natural Resources website at this address: https://nednr.nebraska.gov/dynamic/Wells/Wells
Applicants will be required to submit water quality data from the State laboratory with testing results dated no earlier than January 1, 2022. Testing is available to any private citizen in the state at https://www.nebraska.gov/dhhs/water-test-kits/private.html.
Applications from property owners will also be required to contain a cost estimate for the installation of a reverse osmosis treatment device certified by the American National Standards Institute. That cost estimate must come from a licensed plumber or an entity that has performed at least five successful Private Well Reverse Osmosis Small Water Treatment installations.
NDEE will disperse approved rebates following successful installation and demonstration of effective removal of nitrate to a level below 10 ppm. Follow-up testing will need to be submitted to the department to demonstrate successful removal of nitrate to a level below 10 ppm. Installations and follow-up testing need to be completed by September 30, 2024.
All requirements for the Reverse Osmosis Rebate Program, including the application forms and an instructional video, can be found on NDEE’s website at http://dee.ne.gov/Publica.nsf/pages/22-051. Inquiries can also be made to NDEE State Revolving Fund Section Supervisor Steve McNulty at steve.mcnulty@nebraska.gov or 402-471-4200
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The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy has announced that funding will be available for private well owners to install RO systems to address high nitrate levels in drinking water. Information about the program requirements for eligibility can be found at the NDEE office website http://dee.ne.gov/Publica.nsf/pages/22-051 or at 402-471-2186. The LBNRD is available to assist and provide information on the Reverse Osmosis Cost-Share program and the requirements to complete the application are shown below.
- The well must be registered with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources (NeDNR) which includes a $70 registration fee.
- A state laboratory water quality test dated no earlier than January 1, 2022. Property owners will be eligible for the reverse osmosis system rebates if the domestic well water nitrate levels exceed 10 ppm. Only the analysis fee is charged if the sample is returned for testing.
- A cost estimate from a licensed plumber for the reverse osmosis system installation to complete the application.
Rebates will be provided for up to $4,000 per system and awarded on a combined ranking of need and first come, first-serve basis. For assistance registering your well with NeDNR stop in or call the LBNRD office. On the reverse side of this letter is an infographic from NDEE summarizing the Reverse Osmosis Cost Share Program and QR Codes to web pages that facilitate the application process.
Applications for the program will be accepted from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, with installation required to be completed by September 30, 2024. Governor Pete Ricketts signed into law LB 1014e Section 51: Reverse Osmosis which gave the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) the responsibility to administer the funds to install reverse osmosis systems programs for villages, cities, and private well owners. A portion of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) funds awarded to Nebraskans are being used to fund this program.
