Area residents will have the opportunity to weigh in and ask questions about possible changes made to the entire region’s source of drinking water.
That opportunity takes place at the Halstead High School Auditorium, at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 28.
The City of Wichita has proposed changes allowing it to draw down the Equus Beds aquifer further than it has in the last 25 years,to depths that would possibly impact shallow domestic wells in Harvey County.
The entire county draws its water from the aquifer located beneath its western half. Wichita also wants the State of Kansas to approve a new credit system on water stored in the aquifer.
For each gallon of water the city treats from the Little Arkansas River and uses, it wants a credit on a gallon of water stored in the aquifer. The rationale behind this system is to allow the City of Wichita to build up credits on the aquifer when the aquifer is already full. The proposed changes have drawn concern from the Harvey County Commission and the Harvey County Farm Bureau, as well as local farmers and residents.
(Read more: Newton Now)