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Commission approves HDR contract contingent on grant to study and design new well field after EPA finding
Summary
Following an update that two wastewater plants are under construction and EPA’s letter finding four wells under the influence of surface water, the commission approved an HDR scope (~$429,987) contingent on grant funding and city attorney review to evaluate, test and design relocated wells for long‑term capacity.
Consultants updated the commission on wastewater and water plant construction: the combined wastewater construction contract for both plants is approximately $56.58 million and reported to be about 25% complete, and the water plant has a pending change order to replace piping in a filter gallery. Staff reported the EPA has determined that four Town wells are under the influence of surface water, which would require either treating to meet surface‑water rules (reducing plant capacity) or relocating/deepening wells.
City consultants proposed a scope of work with HDR to evaluate the firm well‑field capacity, drill a test well and design a replacement well farther from the river. The contract total presented was $429,987; staff said they submitted a Kansas Water Office grant to cover design and test drilling and recommended the commission approve the contract contingent on grant award and the city attorney’s review. “We expect that that process takes about 12 months for evaluation and permitting and about 18 months for well construction,” the consultant said, describing an approximate 2–2.5 year horizon from contract award to a new well in service.
Commissioners asked whether losing a major well would constrain future large water users; staff said current firm capacity is tight if any large well is lost and that a 1 MGD industrial demand discussed earlier would exceed firm capacity if failures occur. The motion to approve the HDR contract included contingencies for grant funding and city attorney approval and passed by recorded vote.
