Late-Season Storm Dumps Small Mountain of Snow on Nebraska, SW Iowa

March 20, 2006

A foot or more of heavy, wet snow was enough to close major highways (including part of I-80) and bring lots of activity in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa to a halt yesterday and today. While the precipitation will be helpful in offsetting some of the short-term drought conditions, the significant impact on travel (including closures on I-90 in South Dakota and I-80 into Wyoming) is a good reminder that water and wastewater system reliability is critical. Engineers should keep in mind that water pump stations and wastewater lift stations are critical applications. Investments in reliable, easily-serviceable equipment can pay off big dividends when they mean the system can keep working without operator intervention -- especially when weather makes it impossible to reach the site. Just imagine trying to retrieve a submersible pump from a wetwell buried under 18" of snow on an impassable road in the middle of a blizzard, and ask whether it wouldn't have been smarter to invest in a safer and more reliable above-ground lift station in a heated building.

Related products: lift stations, booster stations, municipal water products, municipal wastewater products

Past updates:

last revised 3.2006