Money to maintain the Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project for the next decade was included in a bill approved by the U.S. Senate Tuesday.
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, announced the inclusion of legislation he authored is part of the Natural Resources Management Act, a package of over 100 bills relating to public lands, natural resources and water projects, that passed the Senate by a vote of 92-8, and now goes to the House for consideration.
“The Equus Beds Aquifer Recharge and Recovery Project has significant consequences not only for Wichita but also for all aquifer stakeholders,” Moran stated in a release. “This critical measure will help make certain South Central Kansas has a safe drinking water supply, and I’m pleased this project was included in the final bill that passed the U.S. Senate. I look forward to this legislation’s swift consideration and passage in the House.”
Equus Beds is the primary freshwater source for South Central Kansas and lies under parts of Sedgwick, Harvey, Reno and McPherson Counties. The project was developed to increase the amount of groundwater available for later use and to raise declining water levels in the aquifer.
(Read more: News – The Hutchinson News)