DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN UPDATE July 22, 2025
There is little or no changes in the wells. In general change will be slow unless rain comes out of the banks of the Little Nemaha and saturates the ground quickly. This community sits on an alluvial aquifer versus the Ogalla Aquifer or the Missouri Valley Aquifer. In general aquifers are large pockets that hold a substantial amount of water and are deep in the ground, generally 250 – 300 feet. An alluvial aquifer is shallow and relies on surface water recharge. BPW wells are around 35-50 feet deep. The BPW wells can recharge with rain, but historically the best recharge comes from the Little Nemaha rising out of the banks and flooding the fields around the well field. We have not had this scenario since 2019. Recent rains have not allowed saturation deep enough to recharge the wellfields. There are communities outside of BPW that are also implementing water restrictions. The Missouri River is a potential long-term option, but state agencies would need to authorize a move in that direction.
We have slowed pumping times which has allowed us to continue using the wells and we have been able to maintain reservoir levels, which is critical. It is vital to manage the pumping levels so that the wells integrity is maintained. Allowing a well to run dry can cause pumps to overheat and cause equipment failure. At this time, we are at mercy of the weather and ground infrastructure. With 178 test sites for potential wells that are not viable, we have turned to Longs Creek for a temporary solution. We anticipate a Spring 2026 completion to bring this water source online. The wells in turn will have much needed relief and an opportunity to recharge the aquifer. If we have not moved out of Stage 3, we expect this to provide us with enough relief to change our status.
This information has been provided at BPW Board meetings which are held on the third Wednesday of each month. In addition, BPW is happy to answer any questions. There may not be a lot of changes in information daily, but 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 22, 2025