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Water issues resolved at Nebraska State Penitentiary after two main breaks
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services confirmed that lingering water issues at the Nebraska State Penitentiary were resolved on Wednesday morning
LINCOLN, Neb. —
Previous coverage in the video above
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services confirmed that the lingering water issues at the Nebraska State Penitentiary were resolved on Wednesday morning. The announcement comes after two water main breaks at the prison last week.
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Previous Coverage: More than half of Nebraska State Penitentiary inmates without running water; repair timeline unknown
The first break occurred last Thursday and was repaired the following day, but a second break last Friday caused problems for several days. The department said the second break was buried under concrete and near electrical lines.
Four of the prison’s nine housing units were impacted, according to NDCS, holding about 715 incarcerated people. That’s more than half of the facility’s average daily population of 1,287.
In total, more than 20,000 water bottles and portable toilets were delivered to NSP for inmates and staff while repairs were being made.
The Nebraska State Penitentiary is the oldest prison in the state. Aging infrastructure there is a known problem. A replacement being constructed in North Lincoln is expected to be completed in 2028.
A 2018 Inspector General of Corrections report noted that water main breaks were expected to be a recurring issue, with five breaks reported between September 2018 and the prior December. A 2022 engineering study published by the department estimated $220 million in deficiencies at the prison.
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