Sewage going into Missouri (Omaha Steve's plant to be under flood water)

[Omaha Steve]

My plant is at risk of millions of $ of damage. The water may be flood stage through December. Then it will be several months to get back online. Meanwhile the river will continue to get millions of gallons of very nasty water every day.

OS

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110603/NEWS01/110609899#sewage-going-into-missouri

By Jeffrey Robb
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

With the rising Missouri River threatening to encroach on a South Omaha sewage treatment plant, the City of Omaha is taking part of the plant offline and will dump 6 million gallons a day of raw sewage into the river.

City officials had expected to take that step earlier, but announced the development Friday in urging people to avoid the river downstream from South Omaha’s Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The city is building a dike around the rest of the South Omaha sewage facility. But the station where city officials are removing equipment is so low that the city can’t protect it from flood waters, said Marty Grate, environmental services manager for the Omaha Public Works Department.

[liberal N proud]

1. Flood stage through December (OMG)

I remember the 93 floods, this sounds like that will pale in comparison.

I understand that they are forcing towns downstream like Hamburg Iowa are being totally evacuated. WOW!

What is going to be the situation with I29? I remember it being closed in 1993 and traffic was routed up US 71 Through Maryville MO where I was living at the time.

[shadowbythesea]

7. I-29

Right now they are predicting 4-6 feet of water on 29 from north of hamburg on. I'm from Atchison County. 29 probably won't be accessible to St. Joe, or will be so spotty you couldn't go anywhere. The levee in Brownville (Army Corp calls it L550) is breaking, as is one in Rock Port. I've heard there is a problem with one in the SE as well. Hamburg and Craig are two towns within twenty minutes of me that they predict will be completely destroyed. The thing I'm telling people to think about - not panic but be aware of - is that food prices for the next few years will rise. They've flooded so much land in Lousiana and now down the entire Missouri River basin. There will be crop shortages.

[liberal N proud]

8. Thanks

And I see this is your first post, welcome to DU.

[Omaha Steve]

9. I forgot to update this post

Yes. Welcome to the DU!

[OmahaBlueDog]

10. K & Ring, with some links and snips

Council Bluffs Looks For Volunteers To Sandbag
River Expected To Reach Record Water Level


COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- In Council Bluffs, city and county leaders are calling for volunteers to help fill sandbags. They’re also closing roads near the Missouri River.

With Pottawattamie County already declared a disaster area, it looks to be a couple of tough weeks ahead.

Evacuations are already under way near Council Bluffs along the river.

From farm equipment to household items, residents are packing up and getting out while they still can.

Read more: http://www.ketv.com/missouri-river-flooding-extended-coverage/28126743/detail.html#ixzz1OPtWW02a


**

Employees Fight To Save Plant, Jobs From Flood
Washington County Braces For Record River Levels


BLAIR, Neb. -- The water is rising and is expected to peak on Wednesday. The National Weather Service said it could stay that high through the end of summer.

The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency has 2,100 National Guard troops on standby to help with any possible danger.

In Sioux City, Iowa, a wastewater treatment facility has flooded, meaning the river is now considered contaminated.

Additionally, the residents of Riverland, Cottonwood, Tyson’s Cabins and areas north of Blair have been ordered to evacuate immediately.

Read more: http://www.ketv.com/missouri-river-flooding-extended-coverage/28126322/detail.html#ixzz1OPtun200

**


Storage Units Full; Others Filling Up Fast
Flooding Forces Evacuees To Find Place For Belongings


OMAHA, Neb. -- Not only will evacuees need a place to stay, they’ll also need somewhere to put their belongings.

From Blair to Plattsmouth, storage facility operators said they have been inundated with requests for space. But many of their units are already full.

Even in Omaha, the requests are coming in.

“Yesterday, it really kicked in. We got a lot of calls yesterday,” said Abby Bynum, manager of Dino’s Storage at 27th and Dodge streets.

Read more: http://www.ketv.com/missouri-river-flooding-extended-coverage/28125740/detail.html#ixzz1OPuSSFNz

** All of the above stories are from KETV Omaha **

A clearinghouse of similar stories on their site may be found here

http://www.ketv.com/missouri-river-flooding-extended-coverage/index.html

On edit: Sorry, out of the rec period, but I can still kick this - people need to know.
:kick:

[Omaha Steve]

2. 1/2 of the Mo River Plant is outside the levy

Should there be a breech of the temporary earthen levy that is still under construction, we will loose all the primary treatment. That means 40-70 millions gallons of bad water a day in the river. Headed out the door. I'll be back later.

OS

[dgibby]

3. Sounds like things are going to be very bad for a very long time.

What about environmental groups and the people/towns/cities downstream? Do you expect lawsuits as a result of dumping raw sewage?

So sorry to hear this. Hope your job is not in jeopardy.

[Sherman A1]

4. Agreed

Hope everyone is safe.

[Omaha Steve]

5. To early to tell where it will all go

The EPA can fine us every day we aren't in compliance with the limits. ut then many cities have the same problem right now with floods. I don't expect the EPA to go nuts over this.

My job is safe. They will need operators, maintenance, and chiefs to get things running once the water does drop.


http://www.accuweather.com/watches-warnings.asp?partner=forecastbar&zipcode=68005&county=NEC153&zone=NEZ053&metric=0

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER AT OMAHA. * AT 11:00 AM FRIDAY THE STAGE WAS 29.5 FEET. * FLOOD STAGE IS 29.0 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FORECAST...THE RIVER WILL CONTINUE RISING TO NEAR 31.0 FEET BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL RISES MAY BE POSSIBLE THEREAFTER. * IMPACT...AT 29.0 FEET...MOST PARKS AND BOAT ACCESSES NEAR THE RIVER BEGIN TO FLOOD. * IMPACT...AT 27.5 FEET...SIGNIFICANT LOWLAND FLOODING OCCURS IN NP DODGE PARK, HEARTLAND OF AMERICA PARK, PLAYLAND PARK, FONTENELLE FOREST AND HAWORTH PARK. * IMPACT...AT 27.0 FEET...LOW LYING AREAS IN NP DODGE PARK, HEARTLAND OF AMERICA PARK, PLAYLAND PARK, FONTENELLE FOREST BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE LOWLAND FLOODING.

[benlurkin]

6. Yikes! Don't eat the catfish