Resident urges action after tests he says show heavy metals in wells; proposes incentives for treatment systems

Randy Zmack, who identified himself as a retired agronomist from Fullerton, told the board he has compiled testing data from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDE) and university extension that, he said, found heavy metals and in some cases radioactivity above drinking-water standards at sites from Grand Island to Columbus.

"We took the drain caps off them rusted stained discolored pivots and we tested them for heavy metals and radioactivity," Zmack said, asserting test results well over drinking-water standards and urging the county to require testing and remediation for domestic wells.

Zmack recommended the board consider incentives or wellness-program support for domestic well owners to purchase treatment systems and said he would push for a state announcement and oversight: "We have full oversight of city wells. We force the testing in the remediation. We openly admit we have no oversight of domestic wells." He recommended a roughly $2,000 test be required to qualify for any program and said a $500 test for PFAs would likely be required soon.

Board members and other residents asked clarifying questions about existing tax credits and the eligibility requirements for any incentive. A participant noted a $1,000 tax credit implemented in April 2025 but speakers said qualifying testing thresholds (for example nitrates above 10 mg/L) and testing costs remain a barrier to broad uptake.

The board thanked Zmack for the information and asked staff to note the concerns; no formal action or vote on a well-testing program was taken at the meeting.