PLATTSMOUTH - Plattsmouth has come a long way in making repairs to its water and wastewater treatment plants since March 17, but it still has months to go before all temporary reparations are complete.

City Administrator Erv Portis updated Plattsmouth City Council during its Nov. 18 meeting about “where we were and where we are now.”

On March 17, Portis said the Missouri and Platte River  levels were so high the water treatment plant had nine-11 feet of water in it, a condition not alleviated until Labor Day.

Portis: “Now, Well 8 is operational and is capable of producing approximately 1 million to 1.2 million gallons per day of raw water. We have been running that well nonstop since Labor Day and have not had a problem. Customers use about 800,000 gallons per day, so we’re using a little less than capacity.”

A contract was recently awarded to Omaha Electric to bring Well 6 online within the next 45 days, leaving three wells still offline.

Portis: “Well Six has the capacity of producing about 800 gallons per minute, or also nearly one million gallons per day…Except for emergency back-up power, all treatment systems within the plant are operational.”

At its last meeting, the council approved purchasing new standby generators for the water treatment plant and wastewater treatment plant. At Monday’s meeting, the council approved a $105, 210 payment, 90 percent of the contracted price, to HM Cragg Company for the generators.

Portis: “The remaining 10 percent will be paid on delivery. An additional contract has been awarded to install that generator (at water treatment plant) within the next 45 days. All work yet to be completed is contingent on no additional flooding and continued access to the wellfield and treatment plant.”

The generators have been manufactured and are in a warehouse in Minnesota “until we need them,” Portis said.

To date, the wellfield is accessible by boat, but decreasing water levels are creating new challenges, he said.

Portis: “Influent pipes and valves of the wellfield are interconnected. Because some of those valves have been covered by flood water, several have not been visible had have not been located for shutoff. As flood water recedes valves have become visible. Several of those may have been filed with sand and/or silt and may not completely close.”

Building Crafts was awarded a $2,295,000-contract to repair all components at the wastewater treatment plant.

City Engineer Steve Perry: “They are still considered temporary repairs.”

Perry said the original estimate was $1.75 million, but cleaning the tank and clarifier was added. The new estimate was $2.5 million with work to be completed June 2020.

Portis said so much erosion has occurred at the boat ramp and park, “It may not be feasible to repair the park. Repair of the west bank of the Missouri  River may be necessary.”

Perry said the repairs will give the plant a few more operable years. Building a new sewage treatment plant would take five years starting with finding a new location, designing the plant, obtaining a permit for the site and construction.

Perry: “What we’re doing here should give us five to seven years.”