DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN UPDATE July 21, 2025
Well levels are steadily rising but are not yet high enough to move out of Stage 3 Drought Contingency Protocol. Normal well levels are 15-20 feet above the screens. We have at least two that have not rebounded to Stage 2 status. The rain has been helpful to keep lawns green and gardens healthy but has not saturated deep enough to recharge the wells. Drought protocol is in place to ensure that if federal assistance is needed, the Board of Public Works has followed the standards of compliance and will be eligible for funding. The Board has been researching short- and long-term options for water supply. There is a Board meeting on the third Wednesday of each month where there is an update along with the status of where we are in the process. In addition, the Board is also available for questions at any time.
Maintenance was performed on the wells due to high levels of iron and manganese. Pumps were not pulling water efficiently and the lines were nearly at 50% capacity. Cleaning the equipment allows us to pull more water, but there still isn’t enough water in some of the wells to increase pumping, which has been slowed down to help with recharge.
The Board has also been working on a project to draw water from Longs Creek north of Auburn. This project has been a challenge at every step, but we are confident that all the agencies that are involved agree that it will move forward. A temporary water plant will be built to treat water that will be put into our system. As part of the process, UV treatment will be required. This will place an added level of protection to ensure the water is free from bacteria. Due to the equipment and material lead times required for this system, we will not be able to bring this online until spring of 2026. While this seems like a long time, the reality is that with all the state requirements, the project is being escalated and moving along quicker than expected. This system will be available while a long-term solution is developed.
There is no one that wants to move out of Stage 3 more than the Board of Public Works. While we understand that the inconvenience is difficult, it is the Board’s job to ensure that the infrastructure is stable, and the water remains safe for all customers. Non-essential water usage is still prohibited at this time. The Board of Public Works has maintained a full reservoir of 22’ despite the challenges presented.
We will continue to provide data with daily readings on the number of gallons pumped, pumping times, and reservoir levels. This will keep the public informed of current conditions. See the City of Auburn website at https://auburn.ne.gov for updates. The reservoir holds 1.5 million gallons of water and has not dropped below the normal levels and is currently stable. This is due to the implementation of the plan and the collaboration of the members of the Auburn and Peru communities’ reduction in use. We appreciate all efforts for conserving usage until levels return to normal.
Alan Slater
Water/Wastewater Manager
Daily Water Readings: July 21, 2025