Publications

Consumers concerned about their water quality must sort through an assortment of information to determine what contaminants are present, which contaminants are of real concern, and the appropriate response and treatment that will be most effective for their situation. This guide provides an overview of household water problems, causes, and potential health effects. The problem can then be matched with an appropriate treatment method. The treatment methods listed in this guide are for household water problems requiring prolonged treatment.

Topics in this publication include:

• Protecting your water source
• Treatment system considerations
• Consumer reports and drinking water standards
• Home water quality problems and solutions, including symptoms, cause, possible health effects, contaminant standard/guideline, and treatment options
• Drinking water treatment methods and information resources, including notes for each method on how it works, what it removes, operation and maintenance issues

Learn More

This video is packed with practical, detailed information you can use to install and maintain your own grass or forest buffer. Topics covered are planning and design, plant selection, installation, maintenance, water quality, wildlife habitat, streambank stabilization and income possibilities. Learn More

Nonpoint source contamination of groundwater by nitrate-nitrogen is a problem across Nebraska. Each Natural Resources District (NRD) has developed and is implementing a groundwater quality and quantity management plan that outlines actions to be taken to address nitrate contamination and conserve groundwater. Learn More

Construction of a new feedlot or expansion of an existing feedlot requires planning.

This 16-page Extension Circular covers the entire planning process and covers:

• Initial site planning and elements to consider in construction • Pen size and arrangement
• Lighting, fencing, gates, and wind protection
•  Runoff control regulations, groundwater issues, and configuring a control system
• Odor and air quality
• Diversions, collection channels, and drains
• Holding ponds and outlets
• Land application
• Vegetative treatment systems

Learn More

Riparian buffers are a best management practice to protect stream water quality, reduce streambank erosion, and provide wildlife habitat.  Riparian buffers may fulfill conservation program requirements and serve as an income source for federal, state and local cost-share programs or the production and sale of specialty crops. These two, 4-page publications guide you through design, plant selection, planting, and maintenance of riparian buffers. 

You also may be interested in a related UNL Extension DVD, Installing and Maintaining Your Riparian Buffer. 

Learn More

Between 1996 and 2006, farmers in the Big Blue River Basin in southeast Nebraska adopted a number of best management practices to help increase yield, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impacts. This Extension Circular documents the dramatic changes over this 10-year period in corn and sorghum operations related to tillage, irrigation, fertilization, water conservation, pest management practices, and cropping systems.  Research and data from grower surveys is well illustrated with graphics, maps, photos, and tables.

Learn More

Planning, installing and maintaining residential septic systems can involve a lot of paperwork. Maps, checklists, registration forms, site drawings, agreements and contracts are all important records of both the process and the final product.

Keeping these records straight — and easy to find — is simple with the Septic System Maintenance Nebraska Homeowner's Guide file folder. It's more than just the right size for your records; it's custom designed to help you record and store information so it can be found quickly.

The Septic System Maintenance Nebraska Homeowners Guide folder includes:

• Graph space to draw your septic system plan;
• Pre-printed space for maintenance record keeping;
• Pre-written data formats to record tank size, drainfield size, and installer contact information;
• Pockets to keep important information in order.

By using the series of UNL Extension NebGuides on residential wastewater treatment and this folder, there'll be just one place to look for resource information as well as system records, contact numbers, and details.

Learn More

Stormwater runoff from individual lawns and gardens can lead to non-point pollution of surface waters. This group of publications provides information on how you can reduce unintended pollution, maintain a safer environment, and use the water you apply more efficiently.   This selection includes four UNL Extension NebGuides:

• Pesticide Use in the Lawn and Garden, G1844, covers proper use and application of lawn and garden pesticides to prevent potential water contamination from stormwater runoff.
• Water Pollution and Our Own Yards, G1848, describes how pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, pesticides, bacteria, and heavy metals often move from yards to surface water via stormwater runoff. This publication outlines practices to reduce water pollution by reducing the amount of pollutants and runoff water that leave a property.
• Landscape Water Conservation, G1859, looks at how much water your yard needs and what steps you can take to assure more efficient application and water conservation.
• Yard Waste Management, G1855, explains how to manage landscape waste, create a compost pile, and use landscape waste as mulch.

Learn More

When water from rain or melting snow can’t soak into the ground, it flows over lawns, structures, pavement, and bare soil, collecting contaminants and soil particles which are carried to local lakes and rivers. This publication looks at how stormwater runoff develops and describes basic low-cost, low-maintenance steps that landowners can take to reduce unintended pollution. 8 pages. Learn More