A new plan is in place to reduce the amount of nitrates seeping into the groundwater in parts of three northeast Nebraska counties.
Marty Link with the state Department of Environmental Quality says groundwater around Bazile Creek has nitrate levels that are three times higher than what is allowed.

Link says, in some cases, farmers are over-fertilizing or irrigating too much, so cutting back will save them money as well.
Link says too many people are drinking unhealthy water.

The plan calls for factoring in current nitrate levels in the ground before applying more fertilizer, and using a flow meter to regulate how much irrigation is needed.
The Bazile Groundwater Management Plan is the first one in the nation approved by the EPA.