Drought leaving Skidmore high and dry

Following this summer's extended drought, the town of Skidmore in southwestern Nodaway County is running out of water.

Of the three wells that provide water to local residents, only two are still functioning, and levels in both are falling lower.

The situation has become so dire that Skidmore purchased water from Burlington Junction last weekend in order to fill its water tower and one of the wells.

Skidmore mayor Debbie Abrams said the water level in one well is dropping about two inches a day.

The town pumps anywhere from 25,000 to 30,000 gallons of water a day, meaning that the relatively small reserve of purchased water won't last long.

Skidmore's City Council will hold an emergency meeting Wednesday night to consider hooking the town up to Nodaway County's rural water supply district. If the council OK's the proposal it will take about a month to switch over to the new supply source.

"We really don't know if our wells will last that long," Abrams said. "But Burlington Junction said they will keep selling us water as long as they have it."

The rural water district will charge Skidmore $6.65 per 1,000 gallons of water, and Abrams said the rate should not result in higher bills for customers.

Skidmore had already water raised rates in June in order to pay the debt service on a proposed new water tower. The tower is to be paid for with a $500,000

Community Development Block Grant, a $407,000 grant from a U.S. Department of Agriculture and a USDA loan totaling around $400,000.

The extended drought has significantly lowered water levels in the Nodaway River, which runs southwest of town near where two of Skidmore's three wells are located.