Nebraska has some of the best water
resources in the nation and the world.
Groundwater (located beneath the state’s
surface in porous regions known as
aquifers) could cover the state with
nearly 40 feet of water if it were all
pumped to the surface. Because
groundwater is so plentiful and
reliable, 85% of the state’s population
uses groundwater as drinking water.
Nebraska’s surface water resources are
surprisingly extensive, including
approximately 18,000 miles of continuosly flowing
rivers and streams and about 430 square
miles of lakes. Wildlife, including many native fish species, rely
on Nebraska’s streams for survival and
prosperity.
Many challenges face Nebraskans when trying to protect this valuable resource. Runoff from rain and irrigation can carry chemicals and topsoil into streams in both urban and rural areas, causing surface water contamination. More than 50 years of crop production has allowed fertilizers and ag chemicals to reach groundwater in parts of the state, causing contamination.
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Programs in the Water Quality Division include
:
Groundwater -- The Groundwater programs
include the Groundwater Management area
Program, Underground Injection Control,
Mineral Exploration and Wellhead
Protection. The program also issues an
annual report to the Legislature
concerning groundwater quality in
Nebraska, and is responsible for
hydrogeologic review of various
Department programs.
Petroleum Remediation -- The Petroleum
Remediation Program involve two
inter-related program areas: overseeing
the investigation and cleanup of
petroleum contamination resulting from
leaking above-ground and underground
storage tanks; and administering
financial assistance for persons
responsible for investigation and
cleanup costs due to petroleum releases
from tanks.
Surface Water -- The Surface Water
Monitoring and Assessment programs
collect physical, chemical, and
biological water quality samples from
streams and lakes, implements surface
water improvement projects, and prepare
surface water quality reports.
Planning – The Water Quality Planning
Unit is involved with multiple programs,
including: Impaired Waters and Total Maximum Daily
Loads, the Nonpoint Source Management Program,
Nonpoint Source Water Quality Grants, Section 401 Certification and Source Water Protection Grants.
Programs in the Water Permits Division include
:
Agriculture -- The Agriculture Section’s
programs consist of the Livestock Waste
Control Program, the Chemigation Program
and the Agricultural Chemical
Containment Program.
Financial Assistance – NDEQ, in
coordination with the Nebraska
Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Public Health, distributes
funds from two major revolving loan fund
programs. These two programs – the Clean
Water State Revolving Loan Fund (for
wastewater treatment facilities) and the
Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
Fund
Wastewater–- The Wastewater Section
administers the construction permit
program for new and modified wastewater
treatment facilities and collection
systems built in the state.
Permitting-- All persons discharging or
proposing to discharge pollutants from a
point source into any waters of the
state are required to apply for and have
a permit under the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) to
discharge including all significant
industrial users discharging to a
publicly owned treatment works.
Water Quality Publications
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