More at stake than just water

Before McCook finds itself embroiled in another divisive argument over water, it's time for the City Council to take the lead in resolving the latest crisis. And, when they do so, the council members need to realize that this matter is about a lot more than water quality and quantity. It's also about community harmony and long-term public acceptance of whatever water decision is finally reached.

As you have probably heard by now, the latest episode in the long-lingering McCook water story is that petitions, carrying 1,329 signatures, have been submitted. These petitions challenge the engineering contract for a study of water wells north of town.

But, in the final analysis, that's not the main issue. What's really at stake is the bigger question of (1) Whether the city should go north in search of a clean, safe and abundant water supply; or (2) Whether the city should build a treatment plant and use water from the city's existing well field south of town.

So, rather than spend more time hassling about a side issue, the council should get down to the city's lone remaining bone of contention concerning water: Should McCook go north to drill, or go south and treat?

The council has already taken action on one part of the equation, employing W Design Associates to look into the feasibility of drilling wells north of town and piping the water to McCook. Conducted in March, the preliminary study showed the north well sites met federal safety standards, coming in below the levels allowed for nitrates, arsenic and uranium. The city is now following up on the possibility of developing the north well fields, with a proposal to spend up to $18,200 for testing now before the council.

Meanwhile, those who oppose the north well development are moving ahead with their campaign, hoping that the effort will persuade the council to stop and take a second look at treatment. One of their main points is that whether the city goes north or south for water, treatment will be required at some point.

So what is the way to compromise ... to be fair to both sides and still come up with the best long-range answer for McCook? To be objective, we believe the city should do two things: (1) Continue to study north well field development; and (2) Authorize a similar study for the treatment of water and use of the existing wells south of town. Based on those studies, the council, with the community's input, should then decide how to proceed.

Without doing that -- and by not listening to a sizeable segment of the city's population -- the water decision will be the source of considerable discontent for years and years to come.