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Committee hears bill to require state rules for direct and indirect potable reuse; Wichita outlines pilot plan
Summary
Lawmakers introduced bill RS 2683 to require the Secretary of Health and Environment to adopt rules by July 1, 2028 allowing direct and indirect potable reuse of treated wastewater. City of Wichita officials described a pilot and outreach plan and flagged downstream‑flow and contaminant questions that still need DWR and KDHE analysis.
A lawmaker introduced bill RS 2683 to the Committee on Water on Jan. 28, 2026, proposing that the Secretary of Health and Environment adopt rules by July 1, 2028 to allow direct and indirect potable reuse of treated wastewater.
The proposal was presented to the committee alongside a detailed briefing from Gary Janssen, director of public works and utilities for the city of Wichita. Janssen said Wichita, which supplies water to roughly 500,000 residents and wholesale customers including McConnell Air Force Base, is moving toward reuse to reduce reliance on surface storage after Cheney Reservoir reached a record low in November 2024.
"This would be a voluntary program," Janssen told the committee. "This would not be, mandating or dictating anybody do this." He said the legislation…
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