PLATTSMOUTH – For most Nebraskans the flood of 2019 officially ended when the Missouri River fell below flood stage nine months after heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt pushed through ice jams on the Platte River. The flood surge carved a hole 3,000 feet wide and 70 feet deep at Plattsmouth, knocking out the city’s wells and its treatment plant. For Plattsmouth, the struggle to recover continues even into 2023.

On Tuesday, the city council authorized bidding for engineering services to construct a new wastewater plant on high ground southwest of town and the city plans to become a customer of the Municipal Utilities District for fresh water.

Mayor Paul Lambert complimented the water department for its handling of recent low pressure, saying the fine work of city employees should not go unnoticed. Even with his positive outlook, signs of a water-weary town have been evident on social media posts.

City Administrator Emily Bausch said Plattsmouth’s water system was stressed by three unusual events around the time of a trailer fire in December. There had been a water main break and then high water usage due to the fire. It came at a time Plattsmouth had an outside company working on a high-volume pump.

Bausch said the water department made sure no one was without water, by doubling the normal load on water pumps.

The action disturbed some sediment and caused some discoloration, but it worked.

Bausch: “All of those demands on the system … the water level did decrease.”

Bausch: “I don’t ever want folks to think not to call here or it’s better to be anonymous, because we can’t fix a problem we don’t know exists. Even though, like I said, we had a whole bunch of things happen all in a one or two-day period that affected water for a number of days, my hope is folks feel confident enough that we can rectify those issues.”

Plattsmouth is working toward a permanent solution with the Municipal 
Utilities District and Bausch said the city now has a number of ways it can assure safe and adequate water.

Bausch: “Until we have a new source of water, we’re going to constantly be working with both treatment and distribution.”

Mayor Lambert said the city’s water staff was able to identify the problem and solved it. Despite comments that may have surfaced on social media, he says the community is grateful.