Water challenges remain, but Peru State College will reopen Wednesday

Water challenges remain, but Peru State College will reopen Wednesday
World-Herald News Service

PERU – Peru State College is preparing for the return of students on Wednesday after breaches in two spots on the town’s levee sent Missouri River water into the north part of town on Saturday afternoon.

“The college is working with students with financial concerns, travel difficulties and evolving academic needs,” said Director of Marketing and Communications Jason Hogue. “We’re also grateful for all that Nemaha County Emergency Management and the City have done to arrange to have the Peru water tower filled daily using tanker trucks to meet the water needs of residents and our students.”

Flood waters overran Peru’s water treatment plant and forced the city to shutoff its water supply, leaving only 170,000 gallons left in the water tower. State Senator Julie Slama (Peru) said the town, located 8 miles off of Highway 75 in Nemaha County, still had water over the weekend, but “only a few days worth.”

On Saturday, school officials closed campus and sent students to safer locations. Classes were cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. The college was never threatened by flood water.

The City of Peru partnered with county and state agencies for water to be delivered in certified-sanitary trucks from Auburn. The water tower will be replenished until the treatment plant is back in operation.

A boil water notice remains in effect and will stay in effect as long as new water is added to the public water system. City officials say to conserve tap water when taking showers and doing laundry, and only drink bottle water.

Students, who were told they can return to campus after 3 p.m. Tuesday, can find bottle water at the Residence Life Office in the student center and at the front desks in the residence halls. Water is also available at city hall.

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