Click here for updates on this story
LINCOLN, Neb. (KETV) — More than 700 inmates at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln have been without running water for days after two water main breaks, according to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.
The first break occurred Thursday and was repaired Friday, but a second break on Friday remains unresolved. The department said the second break is buried under concrete and near electrical lines, making the repair time unknown.
“If this were my dog, I would go to jail for doing this, withholding water,” said Nature Jackson, the wife of inmate Earnest Jackson, who was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1999 shooting death of Larry Perry.
Nature Jackson said inmates haven’t showered in days and do not have clean clothes because the laundry is impacted. She said they have to choose between drinking water, cleaning clothes, or washing themselves.
The NDCS said in a statement:
“Initially, 20,000 bottles of water were delivered to NSP, and additional water deliveries have since been made. Bottled water is distributed every four hours—and more frequently if needed — to ensure individuals have continuous access to drinking water.”
“Portable toilets were delivered on Thursday. Sanitation and operational checks are made hourly, and the toilets are emptied at least every 12 hours.”
“A schedule for shower access is in place and will continue until normal water service is restored.”
“Laundry from the facility is being sent to other facilities to be cleaned, and those items will be returned and distributed tomorrow. This process will continue until normal water service is restored.”
Four of the prison’s nine housing units are impacted, according to NDCS, holding about 715 incarcerated people. That’s more than half of the facility’s average daily population of 1,287.
The Nebraska State Penitentiary is the oldest prison in the state. Aging infrastructure there is a known problem. A replacement being constructed in North Lincoln is expected to be completed in 2028.
“This is an ongoing problem that people in the community have been advocating for long before I even started advocating, and I’m not new to advocating,” Jackson said.
A 2018 Inspector General of Corrections report noted that water main breaks were expected to be a recurring issue, with five breaks reported between September 2018 and the prior December. A 2022 engineering study published by the department estimated $220 million in deficiencies at the prison.
Jackson described the conditions as unacceptable.
“How do we, as a village, a community, expect people to go into a space where they’re treated so terribly, and then the day it’s time to be released, say, ‘All right, go be great in your community,'” she said.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.