Final decision on city water? Please stand by

Because of all that's happened during the city of McCook's search for a safe and plentiful water supply, it's no wonder that citizens are suspicious and skeptical. After all, the city has endured a number of twists and turns during the past decade.

The story line, which has the makings of a municipal soap opera, includes: 1. Buying air base land to secure a future water supply; 2. Finding that the air base site could be contaminated; 3. Searching for other alternatives; 4. Selling the air base land at a loss; 5. Deciding that treatment may be a better alternative; and, then ... 6. Learning the proposed site of the treatment plant is contaminated by years of railroad diesel spills.

It's been a roller-coaster ride of opinions and emotions ... and it's not over yet. Once again Monday night, the council members found themselves at a crossroads: Where do we go from here to secure a safe and plentiful water supply?

After listening to a report from two local professional engineering firms, the council took action, voting 4-1 to look northward in the city's quest for water.

Engineers Greg Wolford and Chris Miller told the city leaders that abundant pools of safe water are available at two locations. The first, called the Hanthorn Site, is approximately 15 miles north of McCook. For an idea of where the proposed well site is located, go a couple of miles past the Red Willow Dam, then go east for five miles.

The second site with well potential is 19 miles north of McCook near the Garden Prairie Church. It is known as the Meissner-Snyder Site.

According to the engineers, both sites sit above vast pools of underground water which are part of the Ogallala Aquifer. "After you drill to 210 to 275 feet, there is a supply of water which is between 135 and 150 feet in depth," Wolford said.

Fortunately for the city of McCook and its citizens, the water tests significantly below federal standards for arsenic, uranium and nitrates. According to the tests by engineers, the uranium level is 9 to 11 parts per billion, compared to a federal maximum of 30 parts per billion. For arsenic, the north well sites test at between 6 to 7 parts per billion, compared to a federal maximum of 10 parts per billion. Nitrates are a problem in many parts of this area, but at the north well sites the nitrate levels were 2.4 to 3.9 parts per million, compared to a federal maximum level of 10 parts per million.

A further bonus for the north wells is that the water is half as hard as that from the city's current water wells south of town, the engineers said.

The next step will be negotiating with the landowners to get an easement or lease or purchase the water rights for the land.

Citizens and city officials have been disappointed before, but -- at long last -- the city has a plan for a potential water supply which is not only safe and plentiful, but cheaper than building a treatment plant. Let's hope it works out. We need to resolve the water issue, and move on to other matters of community concern.