• Our City has reached another crucial point in its history where it has to make important decisions regarding its current and future water supply. Wichita was in a similar position more than 50 years ago when City leaders invested in Cheney Reservoir and made the decision to take more water out of the Equus Beds aquifer. They made these courageous decisions with us in mind, and now we must do the same for future generations.

• It’s no accident that every major city is located next to a water source, whether it be an ocean, river or lake. Cities rely on water for industry, houses and recreation. Cities need water to survive and prosper.

• Future water supplies are not developed overnight. In the next 10 years, we won’t have enough water to meet demand if we don’t complete the Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project. It’s estimated that it will take another seven years to complete the ASR project. The City has been on the current water supply plan since 1993.

• Developing a future water supply now will keep Wichita out of the crisis situations.

  • Water, sewer rates on the rise throughout U.S.

  • Coast-To-Coast Drought

  • California Water Agencies

  • Los Angeles, California

  • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Southeastern United States

  • Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Nation's Aging Water Infrastructure

• Right now, water is being pumped out of the Equus Beds aquifer for agricultural/municipal needs faster than water is going back in through rainfall. It is also in danger of becoming contaminated by the saltwater plumes that are already at its edges. The ASR project will solve both problems and keep the Equus Beds aquifer a viable source of water.

• The promise of a stable and plentiful water supply can be an effective economic development tool that gives the City the ability to attract industries and businesses.

• The cost of the ASR project will be spread out over 30 years so that the future generations that will benefit most from the project will pay the heaviest load on the debt.

• For many decades, Wichitans have been the beneficiaries of quality water from the Equus Beds aquifer and Cheney Reservoir. It’s our collective responsibility to leave our water system better than we found it for our children and grandchildren.

Printer Friendly Version Related to Production and Pumping ASR Monthly Reports Benefits Cheney Reservoir Environmental Assessment Summary Contact Us Design Build Award Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Program Frequently Asked Questions Kansas Society of Professional Engineers Honors ASR Project Main Maps, Illustrations and Presentations Press Releases Program Overiew State invests in city’s plan to increase water supply United States Geological Survey Reports: Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project USGS Review of the Cheney Reservoir Watershed Project Wichita Area Future Water Supply: A Model Program for Other Municipalities Related Pages Chemical Analysis Information Consumer Confidence Reports