Researchers at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute’s (DWFI) collaborative Water, Climate and Health Program are studying health and economic impacts related to nitrate pollution in Nebraska’s groundwater. Our objectives include an improved understanding of (i) the potential links between health outcomes and nitrate exposure in drinking groundwater, (ii) the economic costs associated with attributable health effects from nitrate-contaminated drinking water, and (iii) the environmental impacts of nitrate-contaminated water.
Products related to our team’s research and engagement efforts around this topic are available on this page. If you’d like to learn more about our work, share feedback, or have a conversation about mutual interests, please contact us!
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Some of our products on nitrate issues in Nebraska:
- Trends in nitrate contamination: implications for communities reliant on groundwater for drinking: A peer-reviewed study on longer-term nitrate trends in Nebraska
- The Economic Impact of Water Quality on the Environment: A blog summarizing the economic losses from nitrate pollution in inland lakes, based on findings from a peer-reviewed publication.
- Economic Losses to Inland Recreational Fisheries from Harmful Algal Blooms: A peer-reviewed study highlighting the potential buy-in from recreational fishers as key stakeholders in addressing water quality issues.
- Nitrate contamination in Nebraska’s drinking water: An article outlining the legal, policy, and practical elements related to nitrate management in Nebraska
- Nitrate trends in domestic wells in Nebraska: A short article analyzing domestic well nitrate trends in Nebraska
- The economic cost of groundwater nitrate contamination: A recorded presentation for the Water, Climate and Health Program (UNMC) research seminar series on the economic costs of groundwater nitrate contamination in Nebraska.
- Reducing nitrate intake and health complications from drinking private well water: A blog discussing challenges and opportunities to reduce nitrate consumption and potential health complications
- Private Well Water in Nebraska: A graphic illustrating challenges and opportunities to reduce nitrate consumption from private well water
- Nitrate management in Nebraska community water systems is a complex issue: A short article analyzing nitrate trends in Nebraska community water systems
- Nitrate Contamination in Drinking Water: An article, published in The Actuary magazine, that provides an overview of potential pollution causes and adverse health outcomes linked to nitrate contamination
- Value of water quality: A recorded Nebraska Water Center seminar presentation on the economic costs of nitrate contamination in Nebraska’s groundwater
- Intern experiences working on the project: A video interview with DWFI interns who have worked on the project
Other relevant resources produced by our colleagues at the University of Nebraska:
- UNL Water: Water & Health https://water.unl.edu/category/water-and-health
- UNL Water: Nitrate in Nebraska https://water.unl.edu/category/nitrate