CLARKS, Neb. — Clarks residents no longer have to use bottled water for drinking and cooking, and they have noticed the red stains have left the bottom of their sinks.
More than a decade after being notified of having the highest uranium levels of any Nebraska town, Clarks has completed a permanent solution to the problem. A new $1.04 million water treatment plant went online on Jan. 11.
"I've had a lot of people that said they have noticed a big difference," said Jeff Gress, village maintenance supervisor.
Mayor Jim Kava said the state notified the village in late 2000 that Clarks' water supply had 220 parts per billion of uranium, which can cause kidney failure when very high concentrations are consumed long term.
In 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency revised its radionuclides rule and decided the standard for uranium should be 30 parts per billion.
Clarks began testing water from existing wells in a three-mile radius of the village in June 2003.
New wells were drilled in April 2005 with a water line constructed to the village at a cost of about $450,000. But three months later, uranium started showing up again. This time, it was at much lower rates, between 48 and 68 parts per billion.
In 2007, the village determined that the only long-term solution was to remove the uranium.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
