Local Church Collects Water for Omaha Tribe

St. Roberts in Omaha held a drive to fill a semi with cases of water.

By Lindsey Theis

CREATED Mar. 2, 2013

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  • St. Roberts in Omaha held a drive to fill a semi with cases of water. Video by kmtv.com

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Omaha, NE - It was the thirst to help that has guided the youth ministry of St. Roberts in Omaha. Saturday they held a drive to fill a semi with cases of water.

"The water is very dirty and in a town like that, it's very impoverished it's very poor. This is something we could do right here in our own backyard," Patrick Morrison, a high school student in the ministry said.

The water is going to the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. The tribe is researching prices and the processes for either repairing or replacing its problem-plagued water system in the reservation city of Macy. The city has been under a boil advisory since Jan. 27, after a water-main pipe next to the Omaha Nation Public School broke.

The reservation is mostly in Thurston County, Neb., but a part extends across the Missouri River into northwest Iowa.

In total Saturday the group collect 5,600 cases, 182 bottles, and 486 gallon jugs. They have made three other trips to Macy where they collected another 3,000 cases. The group has also raised more than $2,000.

"We'll keep bringing it up as long as they need it," Debbie Marcill, with Youth Ministry said.

Breaks and leaks have been reported since late January. Older lines are vulnerable during temperature swings. Officials said each time repairs are made, more breaks occur as water pressure returns to the system. The tribe is under a 2011 Environmental Protection Agency order to upgrade the system.

The AP contributed to this report.