Do you have questions about your private drinking water supply? How about wellhead protection, including the management of your private sewage treatment system? Send your questions using the Ask An Expert feature on this web site. Questions will be addressed by Nebraska Extension Educator Meghan Sittler, Nebraska Extension Specialist Bruce Dvorak, and/or Nebraska Extension Educator Katie Pekarek. One question and answer will be featured each month in this section of the acreage web site.
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?
Meghan: 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.
