YODER, Kan. — Nitrate issues continue for the water supply around Yoder.
According to Public Works Director Don Brittain, the latest nitrate test for the Yoder Rural Water District 101 came in .7 mg per liter higher than what is allowed.
The issue first surfaced in August of 2020 when Reno County received a precautionary public notice for an acute nitrate violation from KDHE. A warning was then sent to Yoder residents to limit water usage, especially for infants under six months. A second notice was sent on Sept. 3, 2020, due to additional testing. A third precautionary public notice was sent on Oct. 27, 2020, requiring bottled water to be provided, upon request, to any household with members at increased risk from the nitrates, such as infants, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and other at-risk customers as identified by a health care provider.
At that time, Brittain said he was hoping to drill another well to escape the nitrate plum affecting the current well, but that has not been done at this time. Brittain says he is still in the process of resolving the issue and hopes to have it done as soon as possible.
Nitrate levels in water resources have increased in many areas due to applications of inorganic fertilizer and animal manure in agricultural areas.
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