Nebraska Private Well Reverse Osmosis Rebate Program

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.

• Property owners of private wells in Nebraska.

• The well's drinking water must test above 10 parts per million of nitrate.

• The well must be registered with the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources.

• Applicants must submit State laboratory water-quality test results dated no earlier than January 1, 2022.

• The proposed reverse osmosis treatment device must be certified by the American National Standards Institute.

• The installation cost estimate must come from a licensed plumber or an installer with at least five successful prior program installations.

• Installation may not begin before DWEE pre-approval and a signed rebate agreement.

A post-installation rebate, capped per installation: "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." Eligible expenses are "Testing costs, purchase price of the system, and installation costs." No match or cost-share percentage is published.

Conditions that decide whether you actually get paid:

• Get approved before you start. "Participation in the rebate program still requires pre-approval from DWEE. The installation of any reverse osmosis small water treatment system cannot begin until a rebate agreement is signed between the private well owner and DWEE."

• Your application must carry "a cost estimate for the installation of a reverse osmosis treatment device certified by the American National Standards Institute," and "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."

• Payment comes after the work and after proof it worked: "DWEE 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."

Money and timing: the pool is "$1.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which is part of a larger $4 million ARPA initiative," and intake is rolling while it lasts — "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." As of the initial close, "DWEE received 92 applications requesting $211,071 of the $1.2 million allocated to the program, so funding remains available."

One caveat worth a phone call: this release also states "Installations and follow-up testing need to be completed by September 30, 2024" — a date now well past, so confirm the current completion deadline with DWEE before buying equipment.

Complete the attached form below and email: NDEE.PrivateWellRORebate@nebraska.gov.

Or print and mail to:

Nebraska Reverse Osmosis Rebate Program

Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

P.O. Box 98922

Lincoln NE 68509-8922 

• Private Well ARPA Guidance.pdf

• Private Well ARPA Rebate Form.pdf

• Private Well ARPA Agreement.pdf