Wichita approves contract for new water treatment facility

Wichita is on track to develop a second water treatment facility after the city council approved a $500 million contract.

The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to give the biggest contract in the city’s history to Wichita Water Partners. The group’s relationship with Mayor Jeff Longwell came under scrutiny after a report by The Wichita Eagle alleged he steered the water contract toward the group to benefit his friends and political donors.

City officials wanted to continue to work with Wichita Water Partners out of fear of losing federal funding or not finding another company to bid on the project, The Eagle reported.