Bayard Lifts Water Warning

(BAYARD, Neb.) — The City of Bayard has lifted its “Do Not Consume” drinking water notice after follow-up testing found nitrate levels in the city’s source water wells below federal regulatory limits.

According to a new public notice, samples collected Sept. 9, 2026, showed nitrate concentrations of 6.70 and 7.26 milligrams per liter in the city’s wells, below the maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter and the health-based threshold of 20 milligrams per liter.

The initial warning was issued after testing during the third quarter of 2026 found nitrate concentrations above both thresholds in samples collected from the city’s treatment plant. Residents were advised not to consume city water and to use bottled water instead.

With the source water wells testing below the regulatory limits, the city will bypass treatment within the plant while investigating the source of the elevated nitrate levels found at the facility, according to the notice.

Residents no longer need to avoid consuming city water or use bottled water, the city said.

“We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience,” the notice stated.

Nitrate can enter drinking water through natural sources and human activities, including agricultural runoff and septic systems. Elevated nitrate levels are a particular concern for infants younger than 6 months.

The city encouraged residents to share the updated notice with others who use Bayard’s water system, including people in apartments, nursing homes, schools and businesses who may not have received the original warning directly.