Sewer service – and economic development – are on the way to southern Sarpy County.
The Sarpy County and Cities Wastewater Agency in 2021 selected a contractor to build the first phase of the new sanitary sewer system. The approval kick-starts the effort to deliver necessary infrastructure to support homes and businesses in the southern half of the county.
“Clearing the way to put pipe in the ground is a huge milestone for the future of Sarpy County, the Omaha metro and the State of Nebraska,” said Sarpy County Board Chairman Don Kelly, who also serves as the chair of the Wastewater Agency Board.
Sewer service has proven imperative to growth. Sarpy County’s existing growth is predominantly north of a natural ridge line that cuts across the county. The northern area is served by public wastewater infrastructure; the area south of does not have a unified system, which impedes development.
When complete, the sewer system is projected to add 97,000 taxable parcels of land in the county.
The first phase of the system includes building an interceptor sewer line along Springfield Creek from Fairview Road to Pflug Road near Highway 50 west of Springfield, and building a cooling water blowdown sewer in the same area to serve nearby data centers.
The Wastewater Agency’s project engineer, who was hired in 2021 as the Agency’s first full-time employee, will oversee the system’s construction.
The first phase is expected to cost $70 million. It will be paid for through the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy’s Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund program, connection fees and OPPD PILOT funds.
In full, the system is expected to cost $250 million and be built in phases over the next 20 to 50 years.
The agency, which is governed by a board with representatives from the county and each Sarpy city, projects using no property tax dollars to pay for the system.
Economic impact
Development in southern Sarpy County is expected to generate the following additional incremental revenue:
- $21 million per year in sales tax for Sarpy cities
- $74 million per year in sales tax for the state of Nebraska
- $31 million per year in property tax for Sarpy cities
- $29 million per year in property tax for Sarpy County