HALSTEAD, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Agriculture will continue its public hearing to address Wichita’s proposed modifications of the city’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project today.
The hearings are taking place at the First Mennonite Church, 427 W. 4th in Halstead through Wednesday.
The requests from Wichita is being opposed by the Equus Bed Ground Water Management District. General Manager Tim Boese feels the proposal gives the city too much freedom in taking water from the aquifer.
Boese also says any significant lowering of the aquifer could allow a major salt pollution plume to start migrating further in the water table. It’s estimated that there as much as 1.9 million tons of salt in the water table in a 36 square-mile area around Burrton.
The proceedings begin each day at 9:00 a.m. and will end each day no later than 5:00 p.m. except Wednesday when they will end no later than 3:00 p.m.
The proceedings are open to the public.