Wichita, Kansas Facing Water Crisis: Cheney Lake Levels Plummet

Apr 24, 2024

—

WICHITA, Kan. – As Cheney Lake’s water levels continue to plummet, Wichita residents brace for potential water restrictions amid a concerning drought. Kevin O’Brien, owner of O’Brien’s Marina at Cheney Lake, expressed his concerns as the situation worsens.

Dwindling Water Levels Impacting Businesses

O’Brien highlighted the significant impact the declining water levels have had on his marina business. Access to parts of Cheney Lake has become nearly impossible, with the fuel dock becoming increasingly difficult to reach. Additionally, customers renting slips are hesitant to renew due to the dwindling water levels, further exacerbating the situation for local businesses.

City’s Water Consumption Rising

Currently, the City of Wichita extracts approximately 23 million gallons of water daily from Cheney Lake, the primary water source for the city. However, this number is expected to surge to around 50 million gallons by summer, placing immense strain on the already depleted lake.

Urgency for Drought Response

With little to no rainfall in sight, Wichita faces the imminent prospect of moving to Stage 2 of its drought response plan. This would entail implementing water restrictions as Cheney Lake’s levels continue to decline. O’Brien emphasized the urgency of the situation, warning that access to the lake may become entirely restricted if action isn’t taken promptly.

Timeline for Stage 2 Implementation

The timing of Wichita’s transition to Stage 2 depends on the 12-month average water level at Cheney Lake. If the average drops by 3%, Stage 2 restrictions could be triggered as early as mid-June. O’Brien stressed the importance of immediate conservation efforts and expressed hope that rainfall could alleviate the crisis.

Call for Conservation

O’Brien urged residents to conserve water in the face of the escalating crisis. He emphasized that even a few substantial rainfall events could make a significant difference in replenishing Cheney Lake and alleviating the strain on Wichita’s water supply.

In light of these pressing concerns, proactive measures are essential to mitigate the impact of the drought and ensure the sustainability of Wichita’s water resources.

Source

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Wichita

DISCLAIMER: This article is written by AI. If any of your copyrighted materials, similar names or likeness is used herein it was done accidentally and can be fixed by sending an email to [email protected] explaining the problem. We will rectify any issues immediately. However, any copyrighted or trademarked materials that are used here are protected under 17 U.S.C. § 107 – U.S. Code – Unannotated Title 17. Copyrights § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use in that it is provided for purposes of reporting the news.