Wichita City Council approves changes to drought response plan

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The Wichita city manager now has the authority to determine when the city moves into Stage 2 of its drought response plan. Wichita City Council members approved the change, 4-3, during its meeting on Tuesday.

Cheney Reservoir, one of Wichita’s two main water sources is currently at 69% full. Stage 2 is triggered when the 12-month average drops to 50-69%. It’s currently at 71.3%.

“One of our biggest challenges has been that Cheney’s not here, right? It’s miles away, and so, anytime it rains here, people figure, ‘I’m good. We can keep on doing what we’re doing,’” said Wichita Public Works and Utilities Director Gary Janzen. “That’s why it really helped us when a meteorologist started focusing on saying ‘hey, just because it rained, we’re still not in a good spot because of Cheney.’”

Stage 2 makes water conservation efforts mandatory, including limiting outdoor watering for residential customers to once a week.

Businesses that utilize water to operate, such as car washes, golf courses, and landscaping companies, are exempt under Stages 2 and 3. Janzen said the city continues to discuss ways for these businesses to conserve.

To find out how you can save Wichita water, visit https://www.wichita.gov/499/Save-Wichita-Water.

We know the importance of water to keep yards and other greenery alive, but experts say there are ways to conserve water while keeping your yard healthy.

Reddi Industries, a company that includes irrigation services, said it’s been working with businesses and residential properties to find ways to save water. Reddi says one of the most important things you can do to help the city during an active drought is to research your needs and act now.

“When you’re looking at how often should you water, it’s important to understand the kind of lawn you have. What’s your soil like? How fast can you apply the water? How efficiently can you apply the water? And what steps can we take right now before the restrictions,” said Reddi Industries Irrigation Technician Dean Nestor. “Taking advantage of the time you have now to slowly train your plant material -- grass, trees shrubs -- to be able to live off of less watering will really help the impact.”

When it comes to washing your car, Nestor said car washes are a good option as they use recycled water.