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Wahoo Utilities would like to inform our customers about the upcoming Bare Steel Replacement Project beginning soon throughout the City of Wahoo.

In 2024, the City of Wahoo was awarded a $1.3 million grant to replace approximately 2.2 miles of bare steel gas piping. This piping is the oldest in our gas system and is more prone to leaks, making it the highest priority for replacement. After completing extensive federally required environmental studies and design work, we are excited to begin construction this year.

The project consists of 18 separate construction areas throughout Wahoo. The three largest projects were awarded to General Excavation of Lincoln, Nebraska, and the remaining projects will be completed by Wahoo Utilities staff.

As we do our final preparations for the work, you may see activity from General Excavation in the near future as they gather additional information as they get ready for construction. We expect construction to begin as soon as weather conditions allow.

The areas where General Excavating will be completing the work, likely in 2026, are on the maps shown on this page:

• Along Sycamore Street between 3rd and 8th Streets
• Between Beech and Orange Streets and 3rd and 4th Streets
• Along 15th Street from Broadway to Pine, then south on Pine Street to 13th and 1/2, then east in the alley to Spruce Street

Similar to our water main replacement projects, there will be some impact to the right-of-way in front of customers’ homes. However, much of the work will be completed using horizontal boring methods to minimize disruption to property. The contractor will be responsible for restoring all affected areas to good condition upon completion.

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Hurst or Dave Henke at City Hall.

Dear Community Member:

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will award grants for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) to support critical infrastructure projects across the country. BUILD is a nationally competitive grant program.  

The City of Wahoo is applying for a BUILD grant to improve safety on US-77 at the 15th Street Intersection, widen access to existing & planned businesses at Dry Run Drive, and add connectivity to existing and planned areas at a future planned 10th Street. 

The City of Wahoo is working on a grant application to make improvements to the intersection of 15^th Street and HWY 77 as described on the other side of this sheet.  We need your help!  We want to know about your use of this intersection, concerns you may have, and experiences you may have had there. It is a simple survey that should not take long to complete.  We are asking not only Wahoo residents to participate, but also all that have used, currently use or pass through that intersection.  

Survey Link:  Access Wahoo BUILD Survey 

Information on the proposes project can be found by clicking on this link:  INFORMATION FLYER

This is a quick turnaround; survey responses are due by January 23.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this survey and for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

Respectfully,
Melissa M. Harrell, City Administrator, City of Wahoo
harrell@wahoo.ne.us, 402-443-3222

Statement on the Conclusion of System Chlorination

Wahoo Utilities would like to inform our customers that chlorination of the water system will conclude as of today, December 23, 2025.

As required by the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), and in response to the recent boil water notice, Wahoo Utilities has been chlorinating our water system since November 4, 2025.  While the boil notice was lifted on November 9, 2025, our chlorination has continued.  As of today, December 23, 2025, all required chlorination and bacteriological testing has been successfully completed in accordance with the NDEE regulations. In addition, Wahoo Utilities had our water tower professionally inspected on November 24, 2025. The inspection found only light sediment and no signs of contamination.

Although the minimum required chlorination period per NDEE was 30 days, Wahoo Utilities elected to continue chlorination beyond that timeframe to ensure that all newly constructed water mains passed bacterial sampling and to eliminate any potential risk of contamination. 

Customers may continue to notice the taste or smell of chlorine for several days, and in some cases longer, as the remaining chlorine works its way out of the distribution system.

We understand that many customers may be wondering how the boil water (e.coli hit) situation occurred. Preventing contamination within our water system is our highest priority. Due to the significant amount of construction taking place throughout Wahoo by multiple contractors, it is possible that this activity contributed to the issue; however, the exact cause has not been definitively identified.

Wahoo Utilities has reviewed our operational and construction-related practices and will continue to do so to ensure the highest standards are consistently met. We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may have caused and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Wahoo Utilities.

Thank You
Ryan Hurst
General Manager
Wahoo Utilities

The City of Wahoo contracted with Ray Planning Solutions to complete an analysis of property located on the east side of Wahoo, south of US Hwy 77/92, and east of old Hwy 77 to determine if the area meets the statutory requirements to be designated as blighted and substandard.  The draft report has been completed and will be considered by the Planning Commission (for recommendation) and the City Council (for approval) at meetings in early December. Links to the full draft study as well as the map of the area are below.

The terminology of blighted and substandard often have a negative connotation associated with them, but it should be noted that these terms - "blighted" and "substandard" - are specifically defined in Nebraska Revised Statutes and are intended to encourage updates to property and improvements to public infrastructure. This designation makes property eligible for consideration for use of tax increment financing which is a financing tool to provided needed improvements to infrastructure or aspects of a project that serve the public. This designation also opens the door to applying for Community Development Block Grant funding to assist with improvements.

The City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the study at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at City Hall, 605 North Broadway.  The City Council will hold a hearing on the study on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Wahoo Public Library, 637 North Maple. Any questions on the study can be directed to the City Administrator by email to harrell@wahoo.ne.us, or by may to 605 N. Broadway, Wahoo, NE  68066

East Industrial Area Blight Study

Map of Study Area - East Industrial Area Blight Study

Here is a list of some of the questions we have received regarding our boil notice and related testing:

Who is impacted by this notice?

The City of Wahoo water is supplied to residents of the corporate limits of Wahoo, Wahoo Cemeteries located east of Wahoo, and those who receive their water from the Lower Platte North NRD (primarily Colon). The City of Wahoo does billing for communities such as Malmo and Ithaca, but they are independent systems and are not connected to Wahoo's water system.  Only those services that are receiving water from the City of Wahoo water distribution system are impacted by the boil notice. (Note: Colon is served water from Wahoo by a water main that runs from Wahoo to Colon, and is operated by the Lower Platte North NRD.)

How often is testing done?

The City of Wahoo, as required by Nebraska public water system operation guidelines, does testing on the water system monthly. The Wahoo water system is divided up into five zones. Each of those zones have five testing locations. Each month, a sample is pulled from a testing location in each zone.  The specific date each month that the samples are collected varies to allow for staff availability, wind or weather conditions, etc. Once samples are collected they are delivered to the lab for testing. If a contaminant is detected in the test results that requires public notification (as per the public water system operation guidelines), Wahoo is directly contacted by the lab and the State of Nebraska.

When was the water tested where the E. coli was detected?

City of Wahoo licensed water operators pulled samples from the five zones on Monday, November 3. These were delivered to the lab for testing that day. On Tuesday, November 4, the City of Wahoo received notification of an E. coli "hit" in one of the five samples. Four of the five samples pulled also showed a coliform "hit". (E. coli is a specific type of coliform.) One sample returned with no contamination.  

How did this E. coli contamination happen?

At this time, the exact cause of the E. coli contamination has not been determined. However, our staff is actively investigating several potential sources. While no specific cause has been confirmed, possible contributing factors under review include cross-contamination related to recent water main construction activities or the possibility of contamination entering the water tower.

As part of this investigation, we are contacting professional water tower inspection companies to schedule a thorough inspection of the tower to help identify or rule out any potential issues. Our team is also reviewing recent maintenance records, sampling results, and operating conditions throughout the system to better understand what may have contributed to this event.

When was the water last tested?

The last testing date of our water was done on October 7, 2025. All test results came back negative to any contaminants.

What is being done to make Wahoo's water safe again?

On Wednesday afternoon, our operators begin chlorinating the water system. We will continue to do that as well as a good flushing of the system that will distribute the chlorine disinfection throughout the system. This will be done by overflowing the water tower and opening hydrants in strategic locations across the system. However, just because we are doing this does not mean the boil order has been lifted. As per the notice that we delivered to each customer of our system, at a minimum, the boil order is in place through November 7. Please follow the City's Facebook page, check the City of Wahoo's website, and turn to local TV new channels to watch for an official lift of the boil notice.

Please continue to check back to this page for updates on our FAQs.

UPDATED BOIL WATER ORDER

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER

City of Wahoo - NE3115512

During the month of November 2025, we found E. coli bacteria indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct an assessment to identify problems and to correct any problems that were found during these assessments.

What Does This Mean?

E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not caused only by organisms in drinking water. However, if you have specific health concerns, you may want to consult a physician.

What Should I Do?

Do not drink the water without boiling it first. Bring water to a boil for one minute, and let cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

What Happened? What Is Being Done?

Bacterial contamination can occur when increased run-off enters the drinking water source (for example, following heavy rains). It can also happen due to a break in the distribution system (pipes) or a failure in the water treatment process. The system is continuing to test and is working to identify the source of the problem. We will inform you when test results show no further contamination, and you no longer need to boil your water. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791 or epa.gov/safewater.

Expected Resolution Date:  No sooner than November 10, 2025

Corrective Action:  We are chlorinating the system, overflowing the water tower, and flushing the system.

For additional information regarding this notice interested persons may contact:

Operator: _Aaron Gustin_____________ Phone: ____402-607-9470__________

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

The City of Wahoo will be holding a public hearing on their proposed budget on Tuesday, September 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Wahoo Public Library.  Members of the public are invited to come learn about what the City of Wahoo does, where the funding comes from, and gain an understanding of how our community is financed.

City of Wahoo Budget Information:

• City of Wahoo Budget Presentation (including all items listed below)
  • Property Tax and Levy Summary
  • 2025-26 Budget Summary
  • 2025-26 Budget Detail
  • Debt Service Summary
  • Capital expenses planned for FY 2025-26

Agenda and Minutes can be found here

The Mayor and Council of the City of Wahoo meet regularly on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Wahoo Public Library, 637 N Maple St. They also convene as needed for special meetings which can be called by either the Mayor or by three of the six Council members. All meetings are open to the public and are held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act established by the Nebraska State Legislature.

If you would like to have an item added to the next regular meeting of the Mayor and Council, please print off the Agenda Request Worksheet, complete the worksheet, and return it to the City Clerk's Office at 605 North Broadway along with any supporting documentation by the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on the Thursday prior to the meeting. Once the item is received, the Clerk will contact you regarding the exact date and time of the meeting.

While each agenda is kept continually current and available for public inspection on request, the agenda is not final until posted on the Friday before the meeting. The City of Wahoo makes agendas available by email, on this website, and by posting at the Wahoo Post Office, First National Bank and City Hall. If you would like to have your name added to the email distribution list, please send an email to fasel@wahoo.ne.us.

Special meetings may be called from time to time as the need arises. Agendas for special meetings are posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting time in the same manner as agendas for regular meetings of the Council.

The minutes of the Mayor and Council must be made available to the public within 10 days of the meeting or by the next meeting, whichever comes first. If the minutes you are looking for are not available below, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 402-443-3222.

Older agendas, packets, and minutes are available at the City Clerks office at City Hall.