The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will assist the City of Elgin with trying to lower arsenic levels in a water well.
Mayor Mike Schmitt announced Monday night that DHHS will provide financial assistance to line an existing water well where high arsenic levels have been detected. This move, if successful, would mean that the city would not need to drill a new water well in the immediate future.
“We may have to pay for some testing,” Schmitt said, “but the rest of the costs would be taken care of by the state (DHHS).”
There’s no guarantee the lining of the well will work. However, in some cases, it has reduced contaminant levels by a substantial margin.
“It’s sure worth a shot,” Councilman Kenny Jochum said. Councilwoman Shirley Nissen added, “It’s worth a try.”
The work would be done sometime between now and June 15, 2015.
In addition to Elgin, three other Nebraska towns are on a list for such work to be done. They are Laurel, Humphrey and Wauneta.
Monday night’s meeting lasted less than an hour. Other highlights from the meeting were:
For the complete story, see the print edition of The Elgin Review
