Do you have questions about your private drinking water supply? How about wellhead protection, including the management of your private sewage treatment system? Don't hesitate to email us through the UNL Water Website for guidance and answers to your well & septic questions.
Q: We are building a house on an acreage. Towards the back of the property is a small stream. How far does our septic system have to be from the stream?
A: A septic system and/or a soil absorption field (commonly referred to as a drainfield), needs to be at least 50 feet away from any surface water. Lagoon systems also need to be a minimum of 50 feet from surface water. Surface water includes streams, lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetlands. All set back distances can be found in Title 124, which is the set of regulations covering onsite wastewater systems.
This article is based on original content by Meghan Sittler, former Nebraska Extension Educator. Updated July 2024.
