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5.17.03 M.U.D. gets approval for project After much deliberation, the federal government has given the Metropolitan Utilities District the OK to build a $300 million well field and water treatment plant to meet the Omaha area's growing water needs. For some metropolitan area homeowners, Friday's decision came none too soon. For the past two summers, M.U.D. has asked customers to voluntarily restrict water use because its system couldn't keep pace with demand. As it stands now, the new well field, along the Platte River aquifer near the Saunders-Douglas County line, and the plant will take five years to design and build. Tom Wurtz, general manager for M.U.D., said he was thankful for the decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. M.U.D., which has been waiting several years for approval, had calculated that it needed federal approval by June 1 to avoid pushing the design and construction work into a sixth summer. The corps' decision has required more time because of objections raised by Saunders County officials and because the well field would be about two miles from a polluted area of an adjacent aquifer. "An enormous amount of effort has taken place to get to this day, and I appreciate the patience and participation of everyone involved," said Col. Kurt Ubbelohde, head of the Omaha district of the corps. The nearby aquifer is contaminated with explosives and solvents from a former munitions plant. All involved in the project say that with proper monitoring, Omaha's water supply is safe. The pollutants are across from M.U.D.'s wells, so the well field does not lie in their path. The permit issued Friday by the corps carries a number of conditions for use of the wells. The conditions are there to control or deal with the impact that M.U.D.'s wells have on the environment and surrounding property owners. Jill Solberg, spokeswoman for the corps, said the federal government will continue to monitor the project. She said the permit requires corps approval at various points during the planning, design and construction. The majority of M.U.D.'s new wells will be built in Saunders County, and officials there have worried that pumping will cause the water table to drop. If that were to happen, it could reduce the agricultural and recreational value of land. Scott Tingelhoff, the Saunders County attorney, said M.U.D. "has been cooperative" about discussing potential remedies. Although Saunders County has threatened in the past to sue M.U.D., Tingelhoff said he doesn't foresee a lawsuit. If M.U.D. doesn't live up to its commitments, Tingelhoff said, "that's when we'd step in." Wurtz said M.U.D. intends to be a good neighbor. Because the utility has two other water plants, he said, it can balance pumping among them, reducing the likelihood of harm in any one area. "We feel we will be able to manage our water resources with all three facilities so that we will not do any harm to any agricultural or recreational interests," he said. M.U.D. has permission from the state to pump up to 19 billion gallons a year from the aquifer. Because the Platte River is home to several threatened or endangered species, the utility has agreed to replace wetlands and restore aquatic habitat elsewhere. This expansion will increase M.U.D.'s capacity by about 40 percent, providing enough water to last at least 30 years. The permit has been the focus of behind-the-scenes lobbying, especially since winter, when M.U.D. put a moratorium on service to proposed subdivisions. Homebuilders and others dealing with economic development called on federal officials to hasten action. Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., was "gratified" by this decision, spokesman Jeffrey Connor said. The corps' action, Connor said, allows growth in the metro area to move forward. The next step will be a special meeting of the M.U.D. board later this month to approve Wurtz's signature on the permit and to OK an $11.5 million design permit with HDR Inc. |
Where: The Metropolitan Utilities District's new well field will draw water from the Platte River aquifer, along the Saunders-Douglas County line. The treatment plant will be built at 216th and Q Streets. Cost: $300 million, of which $120 million already has been set aside. When: Scheduled for summer 2008. What's next: On May 30, the M.U.D. board will approve the permit and OK a design contract. Design work is expected to take two years, construction three years | |||