Extension Publications

Know how. Know now.

Water Management

CONSERVATION

Make Every Drop Count in the Home -- Leader's Guide , HEF576

This guide will help residential renters and owners understand how water is used inside the home, why efficient use is needed and ways to use water more efficiently by changing water use practices and selecting efficient appliances and equipment. Participant manual also available. Order printed copies from your local Extension office.

Make Every Drop Count in the Home -- Participant Manual, HEF577

DRINKING WATER

Drinking Water Treatment: Activated Carbon Filtration, G1489

Activated carbon filtration can reduce certain organic compounds, chlorine, lead, dissolved radon, and other compounds in drinking water. Learn about the processes and requirements of this system.

Drinking Water Treatment: Continuous Chlorination, G1496

Continuous chlorination can be an effective method for disinfection of drinking water.

Drinking Water Treatment: Reverse Osmosis, G1490

Homeowners can find out more about reverse osmosis in this guide, which discusses the principles and practices of RO treatment for household drinking water.

Drinking Water Treatment: Sediment Filtration, G1492

Sediment filters are used to remove suspended matter such as sand, silt, loose scale, clay or organic material from the water.

Drinking Water Treatment: Water Softening (Ion Exchange), G1491

Calcium (Ca) and/or magnesium (Mg) in water can result in "hard water." This guide discusses the ion exchange water softening process and related equipment used for household water treatment.

Drinking Water Treatment: What You Need to Know When Selecting Water Treatment Equipment, G1488

This guide explores household water quality and treatment options and can help consumers select a treatment system suited to a particular situation.

An Introduction to Drinking Water, G1539

Drinking water quality is a common concern among people today. This publication serves as an introductory reference on drinking water protection, quality and treatment.

Chloramines Water Disinfection: Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District and Lincoln Water System, G1704

Bacteria and other disease-causing organisms in drinking water can cause a variety of illnesses. This NebGuide discusses the disinfection process used by the Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District and Lincoln Water System.

Drinking Water Treatment: An Overview, EC703

An overview of household water problems, causes, potential health effects and practical drinking water treatment methods.

Drinking Water Treatment: Distillation, G1493

Distillation is an effective method for reducing many impurities found in drinking water. This guide discusses the process and equipment used for household drinking water treatment by distillation.

Drinking Water Treatment: Emergency Procedures, G1494

This guide discusses situations requiring an emergency or short-term drinking water supply and methods that can be used to treat limited amounts of water for human consumption.

Drinking Water Treatment: Shock Chlorination, G1761

Protecting private water supplies from bacterial contamination is critical to assuring good water quality. Shock chlorination can eliminate coliform, fecal and/or E. coli contaminants from water systems.

Drinking Water: Arsenic, G1552

This publication discusses arsenic in public and private drinking water supplies.

Drinking Water: Fluoride, G1376

At optimal levels, fluoride in drinking water can be beneficial to dental health. Learn more about fluoride concentration and potential health effects.

Drinking Water: Sulfates and Hydrogen Sulfide, G1275

Recommended practices to manage sulfur in a domestic water supply.

Drinking Water: Testing for Quality, G907

This NebGuide discusses water testing methods for public and private water systems.

Drinking Water: Bacteria, G1826

Bacteria in drinking water can endanger health. Learn how contamination occurs, how to have water tested, and which treatment to use. Viruses or other microbial organisms are not addressed.

Drinking Water: Bottled or Tap?, G1448

This publication discusses the regulation and safety of drinking water from various sources.

Drinking Water: Certified Testing Laboratories in Nebraska, G1614

Finding an EPA-certified lab to test drinking water for human consumption is important. Use this guide to find out if a lab is certified and whether it's the right lab to test the contaminant of interest.

Drinking Water: Copper, G1360

Too much copper in the human body can cause stomach and intestinal distress such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. This NebGuide discusses practices to manage copper in a domestic water supply, such as one for a home or business.

Drinking Water: Hard Water, G1274

Water described as "hard" is high in dissolved minerals. Learn to recognize problems, potential health effects, testing, interpreting test results and treatment options.

Drinking Water: Iron and Manganese, G1714

Common water contaminants iron and manganese are not health hazards but can cause offensive taste, appearance and staining. Testing and treatment options are available for public and private water supplies.

Drinking Water: Lead, G1333

Small quantities of lead can be a serious health concern, especially for infants, children, and developing fetuses. This NebGuide discusses how to safely manage lead in a domestic water supply.

Drinking Water: Nitrate-Nitrogen, G1784

Nitrate-nitrogen is sometimes present in drinking water. At certain levels it can present a health risk. Properly locating and constructing wells, along with regularly testing water can help manage risk.

Drinking Water: Storing an Emergency Supply, G1536

Taking a little time now to store an emergency water supply can prepare for all types of disasters. If your water supply is disrupted, you will be able to provide for your entire family and possibly others.

Drinking Water: Uranium, G1569

Uranium occurs naturally in soil and rocks. It can enter groundwater and contaminate drinking water, which, over time, can harm health. Learn what testing and treatment options are available.

WATER QUALITY

Decommissioning Water Wells to Protect Water Quality and Human Health, G1471

This publication discusses decommissioning water wells for proper well abandonment.

Installing Your Riparian Buffer: Tree and Grass Planting, Postplanting Care and Maintenance, G1558

This NebGuide describes tree and grass planting for riparian buffers, postplanting care of trees and grasses and long-term buffer maintenance. A companion NebGuide, Planning Your Riparian Buffer: Design and Plant Selection (G1557), addresses buffer design and selection of appropriate tree and grass species.

Planning Your Riparian Buffer: Design and Plant Selection, G1557

Learn how to plan and design a riparian buffer and select appropriate tree and grass species. A companion NebGuide, Installing Your Riparian Buffer: Tree and Grass Planting, Postplanting Care and Maintenance (G1558), addresses buffer installation, planting trees and grasses, postplanting care and long-term maintenance.

Protecting Your Watershed, NF632

This NebFact describes pollutants common to watersheds and best management practices to reduce pollution and runoff problems in the watershed.

Stormwater Management on Residential Lots, EC707

This publication describes how to guard against runoff of pollutants from residential lots.

Stormwater Management: Installing Rain Gardens in Your Yard, G1760

This is one of a series of three NebGuides on designing and installing rain gardens to provide a functional and aesthetic means for reducing stormwater runoff in urban areas.

Stormwater Management: Landscape Water Conservation, G1859

This publication is part of a series addressing stormwater issues. It focuses on water conservation and water runoff from landscapes and their importance to the overall issue of stormwater management.

Stormwater Management: Pesticide Use in the Lawn and Garden, G1844

This NebGuide explains how the proper use and application of lawn and garden pesticides can prevent potential water contamination from stormwater runoff.

Stormwater Management: Plant Selection for Rain Gardens in Nebraska, G1759

This is one of a series of three NebGuides on designing and installing rain gardens to provide a functional and aesthetic means for reducing stormwater runoff in urban areas.

Stormwater Management: Rain Garden Design for Homeowners , G1758

This is one of a series of three NebGuides on designing and installing rain gardens to provide a functional and aesthetic means for reducing stormwater runoff in urban areas.

Stormwater Management: Water Pollution and Our Own Yards, G1848

This NebGuide describes practices to reduce water pollution and conserve water resources by reducing the amount of pollutants and runoff water that leave a property. This is part of a series.

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