Council authorizes design‑build plan to convert Wichita’s Main Water Treatment Plant to emergency use

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday authorized staff to begin a progressive design‑build project to convert the city’s 85‑year‑old Main Water Treatment Plant (MWTP) for emergency use, approving a Phase 1 authorization of $1,000,000 and selection criteria for the procurement. Council voted 6–1 to follow the staff‑recommended “Option 5,” a plan that preserves the plant as an emergency backup using groundwater with disinfection only, enabling restart in roughly one to two days.

Public Works and Utilities project manager Laura Quick presented the options after the new Wichita Water Works plant neared completion. Quick said the new plant’s 120 million‑gallons‑per‑day (MGD) capacity covers projected demand for decades, meaning the MWTP need not operate continuously. But the site contains critical underground infrastructure connecting to the Hess pump station and a reuse future; demolition would be costly and leave little ready‑to‑use capacity, staff said.

The steering committee and staff recommended Option 5 because it balances startup speed, cost and life‑cycle expense. That option would rely on the city well field, provide roughly 45 MGD capacity in an emergency, and use temporary tanker‑delivered disinfection chemicals rather than building a permanent disinfection system immediately. Staff estimated capital costs for the recommended configuration at $11–$16 million and a 20‑year life‑cycle cost of $15–$20 million; the 2025 CIP includes $24 million for the project. Quick cautioned that finished water from the emergency configuration would be “harder” (higher mineral content) but safe and disinfected.

Council debate ranged from support citing regional responsibility to skepticism about costs and alternative uses. Vice Mayor Johnston said he had “very big concerns” about the project and noted the new plant was built with multiple redundancies; he voted no. Other members, including Council Member Ballard who moved the motion, and Council Member Johnson who served on the steering committee, said the conversion preserved a viable, quick‑start backup that would reduce days without water after a catastrophe.

The council also approved the selection criteria for the progressive design‑build procurement and required the design‑builder to deliver a 30% design and guaranteed maximum price before the council would authorize Phase 2 construction. Staff said construction would begin after selection and final approvals, with an expected completion in 2028. The motion carried 6–1.

Staff will return to council between Phase 1 and Phase 2 with the 30% design and guaranteed maximum price; the request for proposals will evaluate proposers on approach/understanding (60 points), proposer experience (25 points) and local participation/MBE/WBE (15 points).