The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) says that the damage from a water leak that resulted in the relocation of almost 134 inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary is long term. Nate Bornemeier, engineering administrator at NDCS, said the breach was found to be in a buried pipe 10 to 15 feet from the exterior of the housing unit. Additional holes were discovered after the pipe was dug up.
“The pipes are made of cast iron, and they are rotting out on the bottom,” observed Bornemeier.
The location of the leak caused flooding in the housing unit’s mechanical room, which operates the unit’s doors, heat and air conditioning, steam, fire protection, and the security cameras’ IT systems. The leak also brought a large amount of mud into both the mechanical room and the housing unit’s main area.
Bornemeier says water was nine feet high in the mechanical room alone and that the mud levels were a staggering two and a half feet high. Engineers visited the penitentiary on Friday morning and determined that the steps needed to make the building suitable for habitation means the entire housing unit could be “offline for the next one to two years.” The growth of mold and possible foundation issues beneath the structure are two reasons why restoring the penitentiary could take so long.
Because of the leak, 134 inmates were relocated to the Reception and Treatment Center (RTC) and other alternative housing options throughout the penitentiary. Other housing units have not been affected by the leak. The facility is expected to continue as normal, although visitations are still off for the time being and will remain so throughout the weekend.
