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8.5.01 M.U.D. urges water conservation The ongoing heat wave and lack of rain prompted the Metropolitan Utilities District on Saturday to again urge customers to voluntarily restrict water usage. The utility asked customers in Omaha and surrounding communities to water their lawns less frequently, among other conservation practices. The 170,000 M.U.D. customers were expected to use about 200 million gallons of water Saturday, matching the amount of last Wednesday. Maximum capacity would be 234 million gallons. If demand remains high and the public's health and safety are jeopardized, the utility will proceed with a Level 2 alert calling for mandatory conservation, said General Manager Jerry Radek. An upper-level ridge of high pressure remains parked over Nebraska. That means 90-degree-plus temperatures well into this week. Omaha, Bellevue, Bennington, Carter Lake, Elkhorn, LaVista, Ralston and other cities in the M.U.D. service area are asked to curtail sewer flushings, lake fillings, firefighting drills, street washings and any other non-critical water usage. Thunderstorms likely will be as scarce as snow in July, and humidity is expected to remain at sauna-like levels. There's a chance that a cool front will move south from Canada by Friday or Saturday, said Jim Phillips, meteorologist with WeatherData, The World-Herald's weather consultant in Wichita, KS. That might produce some rain and drop temperatures into the 80s. West Omahans are discovering that the discomfort of the hot, dry weather isn't limited to the outdoors. The water pressure from their faucets and showers is dropping as high consumption stresses water supplies. But toilets flush and firefighters still can do their jobs, so M.U.D. for now is skipping mandatory water restrictions. The utility said customers have been cooperative in reducing consumption since its first request earlier in the week. Demand, for example, dropped to 188 million gallons of water on Friday. The voluntary restrictions will not apply to hydrant parties sponsored by the City of Omaha. M.U.D. also will keep running its water fountain near 38th and Hamilton Streets, although on an abbreviated schedule of noon to 9 p.m. The hydrant parties and fountain are considered public services because they allow children to cool off in the extreme heat. Radek said that in his memory, M.U.D. has never imposed mandatory water restrictions. It's a possibility now because the utility is years away from operating a new water treatment plant to serve rapidly growing west Omaha. The utility's two water plants are on the eastern end of its service area -- Florence in northeast Omaha and the Platte River in Sarpy County. M.U.D. has only two reservoirs and small treatment plants in the Millard area and Elkhorn. The Nebraska forecast for today called for highs in the upper 90s. Temperatures may soar into the triple digits in the southwest, the National Weather Service said. Conditions will remain mainly dry Monday through Wednesday, with temperatures again in the 90s. Phillips, the WeatherData forecaster, said dew points are likely to remain high because of a nonweather-related condition -- corn. That's because corn sweats. When tiny holes in the surface of the leaves open to take in carbon dioxide, which is essential for growth, water vapor escapes. Phillips said some of the highest dew points in the country this year were recorded between Omaha and Des Moines. The dew point is a measure of how much water is in the air. Phillips said dew points above 70 are considered very humid. Dew points of 80 and above are considered oppressive. At 4 p.m. Saturday, Council Bluffs had a temperature of 99 and a dew point of 82. That made the heat index, or "feels-like" temperature, 124. "That's unbelievably hot and humid," Phillips said. Voluntary Water Restrictions
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Summer water use in metro area Construction Progress Photos Water Plant Wellfield: |
