LINCOLN- In a major step toward finding a second water source for Lincoln, city officials announced they've secured a contract with Olsson, a civil engineering firm that will analyze two potential sites and make a recommendation to the city.

A newly created advisory council led by Susan Seacrest, founder of the Nebraska Groundwater Foundation and recently appointed to the Lower Platte Natural Resources District, will review the recommendations and advise city officials on a process that will likely take decades to complete.

“We stand on the shoulders of previous generations of Lincoln leaders who were committed to this work of ensuring a safe, clean and adequate water supply,” Gaylor Baird said. “They dug in, literally and figuratively, to secure our future. Today, 92 years later, it's our turn.”

Olsson will analyze two potential options already identified by the city: a link to the Metropolitan Utilities District’s connection to the Missouri River; and building a direct connection to the Missouri River.

City officials have estimated the cost of connecting to Omaha’s water utility or directly to the Missouri River could cost anywhere from $350 million to $750 million and will take decades to complete.

The first step, hiring Olsson to analyze the feasibility of the two alternatives, will cost $3.1 million.

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