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12.24.08 Secure supply Omahans can thank their lucky stars -- and leaders of the Metropolitan Utilities District -- for a future of continued growth, economic development and clean water. Little more than two months ago, M.U.D. opened its new Platte River West water filtration plant, a $352 million effort to expand and secure the availability of water in the entire metropolitan area for decades to come. The plant and its wells sunk into the Platte complement the utility's Platte South and Missouri River plants. The luck, and the foresight that ensured that luck, was evident earlier this month: The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources issued a preliminary ruling that all of the water in the Platte and its tributaries has been claimed by municipalities, irrigators, industries and other water users. That ruling means that a moratorium falls on the river. Until final plans and decisions are made, no more wells can be dug, no more acres irrigated, no additional water uses approved. The DNR and natural resources districts along the river must come up with management plans on how the water should be fairly divided and used to benefit the most people. Tom Wurtz, president of M.U.D., said that if the proper permits for the new water plant hadn't been obtained and plans finalized before the moratorium, the utility and, by extension, Omaha could have faced problems. Municipal water users likely will rank high on the list when the DNR and NRDs consider additional water uses. Not only does a safe, clean and readily available water supply benefit residents, but it also promotes economic development and growth. In addition, municipal users are a small corner of the water-use picture in Nebraska. According to U.S. Geological Survey figures, some 93 percent of water used across the state goes to irrigation. Just 3.5 per cent is consumed by municipal utilities. The remaining small uses include mining, livestock and independent home and industrial water wells. Nevertheless, the planning displayed by M.U.D.'s managers and board of directors, who began work on the Platte West plant in the mid 1990s, is remarkable. Platte West is designed to supply the Omaha metropolitan area with sufficient water for its use and growth for 50 or 60 years, Wurtz said. When the next generation of M.U.D. executives and board members begins thinking about a new plant in 30 or 40 years, he said, they'll probably have to look at the Missouri for water supply. The quality isn't as good, he said, but the quantity is certainly there and will continue to be. The utility has the authority -- and now the water -- to follow growth. Estimates indicate that Douglas County will be "built out," that is, fully developed, by around 2040. Sarpy County, also within M.U.D.'s jurisdiction, will continue to grow. M.U.D. also can sell water to municipalities outside the two-county area. The utility supplies Fort Calhoun in Washington County, for instance. As development continues in the area's small communities and as federal clean-water restrictions tighten, it seems likely that more will want to tie into the M.U.D. system. The Omaha area is an attractive place for businesses and industries, in part because of its exceedingly reasonable water, gas and electric rates. Wurtz said that several large industries already have talked to the utility about building in the area. The fates of rural and urban Nebraska are tied together, and water is one of the ropes. It's good to know that as the concerns and debates over water continue, Omaha's supply is secure. M.U.D. decisions enable Omaha to have stable water supply for long term. |
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