Boil water advisory lifted for Wichita following power loss at main water treatment plant
WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Wichita public water supply system located in Sedgwick County.
The advisory was issued because of a loss of pressure due to a power outage. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind notice following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing of drinking water samples collected from the City of Wichita indicates no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions regarding City of Wichita public water supply, please contact the City of Wichita water system at: 316-269-4786, or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit our webpage: https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/468/Disruption-in-Water-Service.
The Boil Water Advisory previously issued for Sedgwick Co RWD 1, Sedgwick Co RWD 2, Sedgwick Co RWD 3, City of Rose Hill, City of Park City, City of Benton, City of Derby, City of Valley Center, City of Bel Aire, and City of Kechi remains in effect and precautions should continue to be followed as outlined in the previously issued advisory.
For consumer questions regarding the remaining water systems listed above where the advisory remains in effect, please contact as follows:
Sedgwick Co RWD 1, 316-744-3173 City of Benton, 316-778-1625
Sedgwick Co RWD 2, 316-755-9888 City of Derby, 316-788-1519
Sedgwick Co RWD 3, 316-777-0877 City of Valley Center, 316-755-7320
City of Rose Hill, 316-776-2712 City of Bel Aire, 316-744-2451
City of Park City, 316-249-0880 City of Kechi, 316-744-9287
WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — The City of Wichita remains under a boil water advisory Thursday as it waits for test results from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Mayor Lily Wu said the top priority is to provide safe drinking water to the nearly 500,000 people affected by the advisory.
At around 5 a.m. Wednesday, the city said power was lost at the main water treatment plant and Hess pump station. Megan Lovely, communications manager for the City of Wichita, said the power blip occurred during the storm, and there was a malfunction in the backup generators, resulting in power loss.
Test results from the KDHE are expected around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, the city said.
“At that time, next steps will be considered,” the city said. “Only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory. If no contamination is found, the boil advisory could be lifted by KDHE. If contamination is found, the boil order could be extended another 24 hours for the entire system, or it could be isolated to any parts of the City that could be impacted.”
Test results are expected between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday. Get updates at kake.com.
According to the City of Park City, because the Chisholm Creek Utility Authority is a City of Wichita wholesale water customer for a portion of the water they provide, the KDHE advised Wichita must lift its boil water advisory before Park City can complete the required testing.
“Based on this process, Saturday is currently the earliest likely date Park City’s boil advisory could be lifted,” the city wrote.
Other communities, such as Derby, Valley Center, Benton and Rose Hill, will similarly have to wait until the Wichita samples show no coliforms.
The City of Wichita has issued a boil water advisory for its water customers following a citywide loss of pressure on Wednesday morning.
The city said power was lost at the main water treatment plant and Hess pump station, and staff are investigating the cause. The advisory affects about 500,000 water users, including Sedgwick Co RWD 1, 2 and 3; Rose Hill; Park City; Benton; Derby; Valley Center; Bel Aire; Kechi; and McConnell Air Force Base. Director of Public Works and Utilities Gary Janzen said all have been notified.
Hundreds of city water users reported on the KAKE News Facebook page that they had experienced a loss of pressure.
Wichita water customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:
Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
“Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled,” the city said. “Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.”
Water testing is complete and tests have been sent to the lab, the City of Wichita said Wednesday evening, adding that they expect to receive results of the tests on Thursday afternoon.
“At that time, next steps will be considered,” the city said. “Only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory. If no contamination is found, the boil advisory could be lifted by KDHE. If contamination is found, the boil order could be extended another 24 hours for the entire system, or it could be isolated to any parts of the City that could be impacted.”
A spokesperson for Ascension Via Christi said they are actively responding to the city’s boil water advisory, implementing precautions to protect patients, visitors and associates.
“Bottled water is being distributed throughout our facilities for drinking and other clinically appropriate uses, and food is being provided and disposable service ware,” the spokesperson said. “As an additional precaution, we are rescheduling non-emergent surgeries while the boil order remains in effect. Patients affected by these changes are being contacted directly. Emergency and medically necessary care continues, and we are coordinating closely with city and public health officials as we monitor the situation.”
USD 259 canceled school for elementary schools that start at 9 a.m. Students who are in latchkey at 9 a.m. start schools will need to be picked up, the district said.
“Schools that are already in session and secondary 9 a.m. start schools will continue as normal,” Wichita Public Schools said. “Determination about after-school events today and school on September 17 will be made when more information is available.”
Wednesday’s after-school programs, activities and athletic practices on USD 259 property are canceled. Athletic events that are hosted out-of-district will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
The district said that all WPS schools will be in session on Thursday, September 17.
“We have enough bottled water being delivered to our schools for each student and staff member to have one 17 ounce bottle of water and for food service,” WPS said. “If your student needs additional water, you are welcome to send some with your student.”
A decision about after-school and athletic activities for Thursday will be made on Thursday, the district said.
Maize USD 266 said the Maize South schools would follow the boil order.
According to the city, only the Kansas Department of Health and Environment can rescind the order following testing at a certified laboratory.
For consumer questions, contact the City of Wichita at (316) 265-1300 or KDHE at (785) 296-5514. Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at kda.fsl@ks.gov or call (785) 564-6767.
Wichita’s water outage map did not show any issues, and loss of pressure reports cannot be made on the city’s website. The city provides a phone number to call to report a water outage, (316) 262-6000, but the automated service required an extension number or a name. The city’s water outage page does not list that information.
The city announced earlier this week that it had signed a certificate of occupancy for its long-delayed new water treatment plant at 21st Street North and Hoover. Over the next six months, the city plans to begin taking over operations at the plant with Wichita Water Partners assisting in the transition. It hopes to be fully online by Spring 2027. The city said the boil water advisory has nothing to do with the new water plant.
For more information regarding the water advisory, click here.