If you own a private drinking water well in Nebraska, the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) recommends you test your well annually. This isn't a requirement; DWEE doesn't regulate private wells, but it's a smart way to understand your water quality and make informed choices.

While you can test anytime, DWEE suggests doing it in the spring and avoiding summer, aiming for roughly the same time each year.

To ensure residents have access to safe and adequate drinking water, Public Water Systems (PWS) need to build the proper technical, managerial and financial capabilities.

That is where the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment’s (DWEE) Capacity Development Program comes in. It is responsible for:

NeRAIN, or the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network, is a cool initiative that gets everyday folks involved in weather watching. It’s all about volunteers who track daily precipitation and weather events, creating accurate data on things like rainfall and snowfall. 

For eight years, the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) has been administering the state’s $12.25 million share of the Volkswagen (VW) State Trust.

The 2025 Power Summit, sponsored by DWEE, NPPD, OPPD and LES, was held in Lincoln on Oct. 1, 2025. The Power Summit provides those in the power generating industry and those responsible for the implementation of the associated environmental regulations with an opportunity to exchange information related to power production, environmental policies, programs, and issues in Nebraska.

A primary objective of the Summit is to enhance the dialogue that has been established between the power industry and the associated regulatory agencies.

Welcome to a new chapter in our story series—now proudly titled All About DWEE. This change reflects a significant milestone in Nebraska’s commitment to protecting and managing our environmental and natural resources.

The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment’s Streamgaging Program, created by the Nebraska Legislature, tracks and records water flowing in streams, rivers, and canals across the state, as well as the water stored in reservoirs.

This important data is used by the agency and stakeholders, including Natural Resource Districts, and state and local emergency managers, to aid in making decisions for tasks, such as: