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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 primarily provides regulatory authority and definitions for direct and indirect potable reuse to allow local governments that choose to proceed to do so under clear state rules.
Why it matters: Wichita officials told lawmakers they need a regulatory framework before major investments and long‑term sampling and validation can proceed. Janssen said Wichita has submitted a feasibility study to the Bureau of Reclamation to position the city for potential federal funding and has hired CDM Smith to develop a water reuse master plan.
What Wichita proposes and will test: Janssen described a city‑funded pilot modeled on projects in California. The pilot would use advanced water purification, long‑term sampling and public tours to validate performance for regulators and the public. The pilot also aims to train operators for a different operational process that direct potable reuse requires.
Contaminants and downstream flows: Representative Brodie asked about PFAS and emerging contaminants; Janssen said Wichita is not currently detecting PFAS in its source water but that advanced treatment would be designed to address such contaminants. Representative Vaughn asked whether capturing effluent for reuse could reduce downstream flows or trigger interstate compact issues; Janssen said modeling is underway and early results "appear to be minimal impact" at some downstream points but that DWR conversations and further analysis are ongoing.
Public engagement: Janssen said Wichita has conducted roughly 40 public presentations and is formalizing outreach, including a website, a steering committee and an exhibit at Exploration Place to help explain reuse technologies. He emphasized that tours and demonstrations are critical to public acceptance.
Next steps: The bill was introduced for committee consideration; no vote occurred at the hearing. Janssen said Wichita is drafting a pilot plan for KDHE and intends to rely on existing out‑of‑state standards (Colorado) as the city’s pilot validation proceeds while KDHE develops Kansas rules.
Speakers quoted in this account are limited to those who appear in the committee record.
Ending: The committee took testimony and questions on the bill and related pilot plans; no formal action was recorded at the Jan. 28 hearing, and further briefings and public testimony are expected as KDHE and DWR continue technical review.
