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8.4.01 M.U.D. calls water alert M.U.D. customer-owners used 188 million gallons of water on Friday, August 3. We estimate consumption will increase to 200 million gallons of water today, August 4. Customers also used 200 million gallons of water on Wednesday, August 1. Our system capacity is 234 million gallons a day. M.U.D.'s two water treatment plants -- Florence at 9100 John J. Pershing Dr., and Platte River, at 36th St. and the Platte River in Sarpy County -- are located on the east end of the District's service area. This makes pumping water to west Omaha difficult and we are struggling to fill the reservoirs in west Omaha (Skyline at 213th & Pacific Sts., and 132nd & Harney Sts.). We're also beginning to see some lower than normal water pressure in the western part of Omaha, however water presures are adequate for domestic use and fire protection. We have seen some reduction in use due to our request on August 2, asking customers to water every other day, however we're going to a Level 1 Water Alert, asking our customers to voluntarily begin watering on odd/even day/address program because we need a further reduction in use to keep up with the demand during this dry spell. The alert is effective immediately. This means customers with odd-numbered addresses will water on odd-numbered days and those with even-numbered addresses will water on even-numbered days. We're also asking pepole not to wash their cars at home, to shut off decorative fountains, and to refrain from filling swimming pools. Small wading pools for children are okay. We also asking the City of Omaha and other communities we serve (Bellevue, Bennington, Elkhorn, LaVista, Ralston, Offutt Air Force Base, Carter Lake, and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District -- which supplies water to Fort Calhoun), to curtail sewer flushing, lake filling, fire fighting drills, street washing and any non-critical use of water. Because of public health issues, the City of Omaha will not be asked to discontinue their hydrant parties. Likewise, M.U.D. will keep the fountain at the Walnut Hill Reservoir operating from noon to 9 p.m. each day. Our concerns are: Public health and safety of our customers, fire protection, and finally lawn-watering and other non-essential water uses. We will continue to monitor water use, and if the reservoir situation does not improve, we will consider going to a Level 2 Water Alert, which includes mandatory restrictions. These restrictions will continue until water loads drop or it rains. M.U.D. provides water to more than 170,000 customer-owners in the metro area. |
Summer water use in metro area Construction Progress Photos Water Plant Wellfield: |
