BEATRICE – Two recent water main breaks near the Big Blue River may lead to capping an old water main in that area.
Beatrice Water Superintendent Steve Kelley says the breaks, happening one day apart, occurred at First and Ella Streets.


"We've had several breaks on that. We've had three or four between Court and Ella. We've had some up where Catlin used to be, and we've had a couple at Second and Grant. I did check with our computer model whether we actually needed that main, because there are no services on it, anymore".


Kelley says the 12-inch water main located there doesn’t adversely impact water pressure to the west part of the community. He says that means the line could be capped to prevent future breaks.


That would eliminate a fire hydrant at 1st and Ella, but Kelley says there are nearby hydrants at 2nd and Ella and 1st and Court.
Two other hydrants could also be eliminated at 1st and High and 1st and Grant, where the former Catlin’s Salvage Yard building was located, before it was demolished.