Water Restrictions in Eastern Neb. Counties - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Water Restrictions in Eastern Neb. Counties

Maureen Wurtz

UNADILLA (KPTM)- 14 Nebraska counties have water restrictions. Jack Daniel, with Nebraska DHHS said he expects that number to grow.

 The small town of Unadilla has had restrictions for weeks. "It's terrible there," said Unadilla resident, Laurence Royal.

"It's beyond a lot of help," said Glenn Petersen.

 Royal and Peterson meet in the Unadilla Gas station for coffee weekly. The two sat back and said they watch the green summer colors fade to brown. "It's not good out there, I know that," said Royal.

 Royal hasn't watered his lawn for 3 weeks. "That's the first time its been we had to do that since I've been in town."

 91-year-old Royal has lived in Unadilla for 40 years. 88-year-old Petersen lives in nearby Syracuse.

Both said they've seen a drought like this before. "In the 30s there was no fertilizer, no nothing there, but no crops too," said Petersen. "In those days, if you had a dollar in your pocket in the winter time, you were pretty lucky."

 So far, luck is about as dried up as the corn.

 Petersen said he can count the number of times it has rained on one hand. "All I can remember is we had a nice 3 inch rain."

"We'd be gone a long time ago if it weren't for that," said Royal.

 Just like the little bit of green grass peaking through the lawns, the two said they aren't giving up on rain just yet.

 There are no water restrictions in Omaha yet. Lancaster County is under a volunteer restriction, asking people to water their lawns every other day.

 To see the whole list of counties and restrictions, click here.